Circus Performer Collection

Circus, 1913. Creator: August Macke
Circus, 1913. Three acrobats attend to a female rider who has had an accident. Her inert body is carried from the ring, while the horse that has caused the tragedy is led away

Jack Barrett [i.e., Barnett], Barnum's, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Jack Barrett [i.e., Barnett], Barnum's, between c1910 and c1915. Shows Jack W.C. Barnett (right) who was a performer with the Barnum and Bailey circus.

Portrait in women's clothing circus artist Lulu, Cannon Man
3563344 Portrait in women's clothing circus artist Lulu, Cannon Man; (add.info.: Great Britain 1865-1870 Photographer: London Stereoscopic And Photographic Company); Alinari Archives, Florence

Pauline Musters
3733737 Pauline Musters.; (add.info.: Photographic portrait of Pauline Musters (1876-1895) a circus performer who was 23 inches tall

Manifesto of the brothers Artell, circus acrobats
3563343 Manifesto of the brothers Artell, circus acrobats; (add.info.: Great Britain 1875-1880 Date of Artwork: 1875-1890 Photographer: Seward William); Alinari Archives, Florence

Nos saltimbanques, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Nos saltimbanques, 19th century. Our acrobats

Les saltimbanques, 1880. Creator: Honore Daumier
Les saltimbanques, 1880. The acrobats

Esquisse pour la mairie du 10ème (salle des fêtes): Parade sur les boulevards
Esquisse pour la mairie du 10eme (salle des fetes): Parade sur les boulevards, between 1905 and 1908. Street parade

Grimaces et misère - Les Saltimbanques (les musiciens), 1888. Creator: Fernand Pelez
Grimaces et misere - Les Saltimbanques (les musiciens), 1888

Esquisse pour la galerie Lobau de l'Hôtel de Ville de Paris : Scènes médiévales... 1890. Creator: Hector d Espouy
Esquisse pour la galerie Lobau de l'Hotel de Ville de Paris : Scenes medievales : saltimbanques et jeux de foire, 1890

The "Polish Reaper", at Cirque-Olympique theatre, between 1801 and 1900. Creator: Unknown
The "Polish Reaper", at Cirque-Olympique theatre, between 1801 and 1900

Grimaces et misère - Les Saltimbanques (clown blanc et bonisseur), 1888. Creator: Fernand Pelez
Grimaces et misere - Les Saltimbanques (clown blanc et bonisseur), 1888

Grimaces et misère - Les Saltimbanques (clown blanc et bonisseur), 1888. Creator: Fernand Pelez
Grimaces et misere - Les Saltimbanques (clown blanc et bonisseur), 1888

Grimaces et misère - Les Saltimbanques (acrobates), 1888. Creator: Fernand Pelez
Grimaces et misere - Les Saltimbanques (acrobates), 1888

Grimaces et misère - Les Saltimbanques, 1888. Creator: Fernand Pelez
Grimaces et misere - Les Saltimbanques, 1888

Death of the "Lion Queen", in Wombwell's Menagerie, at Chatham, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Death of the "Lion Queen", in Wombwell's Menagerie, at Chatham [in Kent], 1850. It was the business of the deceased [17-year-old Ellen Blight] to go into the dens

Circus Game, n.d. Creator: Manuel Manilla
Circus Game, n.d

Young woman on a circus carriage Italy. Date of Photograph:1960 ca

Young woman appearing at the window of a carriage from the Artis circus Italy. Date of Photograph:1960 ca

Portrait of a dwarf with a horse Italy. Date of Photograph:1970 ca

Victorian London - Charles Blondin at Shoreditch
Vintage engraving showing a scene from 19th Century London England. Charles Blondin The Great Blondin performs the tightrope walker act at Shoreditch circa 1870

Silence, a la fin, les mauvais polissons
Vintage french satirical cartoon. Silence, a la fin, les mauvais polissons ! Laissez-moi travailler et ne faites pas de moi tous les voisins ! silence at the end, evil pranks

Miss Lavinia Warren, between 1855 and 1865. Creator: Unknown
Miss Lavinia Warren, between 1855 and 1865. [American circus performer, wife of General Tom Thumb]

The Circus at Covent Garden Theatre with the Lion going through his performance, 1890. Creator: Unknown
The Circus at Covent Garden Theatre with the Lion going through his performance, 1890

La Fontaines Fables - Ape and the Leopard
Vintage engraving from La Fontaines Fables, Illustraed by Gustave Dore. The Ape and the Leopard

Toy Bank, c. 1939. Creator: Pearl Torell
Toy Bank, c. 1939

Monkey Bank, 1935 / 1942. Creator: Ernest A Towers Jr
Monkey Bank, 1935/1942

La Danseuse de Corde (The Tight Rope Walker) (Furnishing Fabric), Nantes, 1785 / 90
La Danseuse de Corde (The Tight Rope Walker) (Furnishing Fabric), Nantes, 1785/90. Manufactured by Petitpierre et Cie

Cigar Store Figure: Clown, c. 1939. Creator: Robert Pohle
Cigar Store Figure: Clown, c. 1939

Acrobat Albert, c. 1936. Creator: David Ramage
Acrobat Albert, c. 1936

Tight-Rope Walker, c. 1885. Creator: Jean Louis Forain
Tight-Rope Walker, c. 1885

Lion Tamer, c. 1880 (colour litho)
PNP312789 Lion Tamer, c.1880 (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Historical Pictures; English, out of copyright

Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando, 1879 (black chalk and pastel on paper)
BI148718 Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando, 1879 (black chalk and pastel on paper) by Degas, Edgar (1834-1917); 47x32 cm; The Henry Barber Trust, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts

The Circus, 1905. Creator: Harry Cogswell Rubincam
The Circus, 1905

Grands Sauteurs!, from La Caricature, 1823-60. Creator: Alexandre Gabriel Decamps
Grands Sauteurs!, from La Caricature, 1823-60

Carters Tiger Feat, 1844. Creator: Unknown
Carters Tiger Feat, 1844. Circus act at Astleys Amphitheatre in London: Mr. Batty, the enterprising proprietor of this popular establishment, has recently added to its attractions

Carters Lion Chariot Feat, 1844. Creator: Unknown
Carters Lion Chariot Feat, 1844. Circus act at Astleys Amphitheatre in London: Mr. Batty, the enterprising proprietor of this popular establishment, has recently added to its attractions

Barry, the Clown, on the Thames, 1844. Creator: Unknown
Barry, the Clown, on the Thames, 1844. Scene on the River Thames in London:an eccentric feat of very rare, though not unprecedented enactment. Mr

Mother and children watching television
UNITED STATES - CIRCA 1950s: Mother and children watching television

Carnival at Nice, France, from the Holidays series (N80) for Duke brand cigarettes, 1890

Fall of the Vaux-Hall Performer, 1834. Creator: John Doyle
Fall of the Vaux-Hall Performer, 1834. Lord Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux portrayed as a circus tightrope-walker. The play on words in the title connects his name with entertainments at

Equestrienne (At the Cirque Fernando), 1888, (1952). Creator: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Equestrienne (At the Cirque Fernando), 1888, (1952). Louis Fernando, and a female perfomer riding a horse at the circus in Paris. Painting in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, USA

Baby with wet hair sitting in wash basin, smiling, taking a bath
UNITED STATES - CIRCA 1930s: Baby with wet hair sitting in wash basin, smiling, taking a bath

Victorian boy abouit to use a trapeze
Vintage engraving of a Victorian boy abouit to use a trapeze

Victorian boy swinging on a trapeze
Vintage engraving of a Victorian boy swinging on a trapeze

Bertram Mills circus poster, 1922 (colour litho)
BAL5399 Bertram Mills circus poster, 1922 (colour litho) by Hardy, Dudley (1867-1922); Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK; English, out of copyright

Antique Postcard of a Knife-Throwing Act. ca. 1910, Antique Postcard of a Knife-Throwing Act

Mustang Liniment Trade Card. ca. 1890, Mustang Liniment Trade Card

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Step right up and witness the enchanting world of a circus performer, where imagination meets reality in Victorian London. Picture Charles Blondin at Shoreditch, defying gravity as he walks across a tightrope with grace and precision. The crowd holds its breath in silence, captivated by his daring act. But not all is quiet under the big top; "a la fin, les mauvais polissons" - mischief-makers causing mayhem amidst the spectacle. Yet even their antics cannot overshadow the true stars of the show. Enter Miss Lavinia Warren, a petite wonder who commands attention between 1855 and 1865. Her diminutive stature belies her immense talent and charisma that leaves audiences spellbound. Meanwhile, at Covent Garden Theatre in 1890, an unknown lion steals the spotlight as it goes through its meticulously choreographed performance. The audience gasps in awe as this majestic creature showcases its power and elegance. In another corner of this magical realm lies La Fontaines Fables - an enchanting tale unfolds before our eyes: an ape and a leopard engage in a dance of strength and agility that mesmerizes young and old alike. As we journey through time to c. 1939, we discover whimsical creations like Toy Bank by Pearl Torell or Monkey Bank by Ernest A Towers Jr. , reminding us that even everyday objects can embody the spirit of circus artistry. The legacy continues with La Danseuse de Corde (The Tight Rope Walker) from Nantes circa 1785/90 – an exquisite furnishing fabric depicting a fearless acrobat suspended high above ground; her every move exuding poise and grace. A cigar store figure captures our attention next – a clown frozen mid-performance by Robert Pohle around 1939. This static representation hints at the vibrant energy clowns bring to life within circuses throughout history. Acrobat Albert takes center stage circa 1936, a creation by David Ramage.