Ringmaster Collection

Smiling ringmaster in circus ring pointing to acrobats juggling, walking tightrope and balancing on unicycle

The Educated Mules at the Alhambra Palace, 1858. Creator: Unknown
The Educated Mules at the Alhambra Palace, 1858. American circus in London: Messrs. Howes and Cushing's "educated" mules, Barney and Pete who...must have had

Françoise Ravel as Roquinet, 1855-1859. Creator: Alfred Jacob Miller
Francoise Ravel as Roquinet, 1855-1859

Seal Carved as Circus Impresario, 19th century. Creator: Unknown
Seal Carved as Circus Impresario, 19th century

Danses de la haute école - Poses d'une école... 1853. Creator: Honore Daumier
Danses de la haute ecole - Poses d'une ecole... 1853. Danses de la haute ecole. Poses d'une ecole encore plus elevee. (High school dances. Poses from an even higher school)

He is Dead, 1910. Creator: Gosta von Hennigs
He is Dead, 1910. A clown in a red costume and white painted face sits on his knees in the arena. In front of him lies a dead man

vintage circus poster art

The Circus, c. 1913 (oil on canvas)
LMG112956 The Circus, c.1913 (oil on canvas) by Ginner, Charles (1878-1952); 76.6x61.3 cm; Leeds Museums and Galleries (Leeds Art Gallery) U.K.; Leeds Museums and Galleries, UK

Lion (chromolitho)
2817018 Lion (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Lion. Educational card, late 19th or early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Ring Master, illustration from Voyage aux Pyrenees by Hippolyte Taine (1828-93), Hachette, Paris
CHT207870 Ring Master, illustration from Voyage aux Pyrenees by Hippolyte Taine (1828-93), Hachette, Paris, published 1860 (engraving) (b/w photo) by Dore

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

Equestrienne (At the Cirque Fernando), 1887 / 88. Creator: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Equestrienne (At the Cirque Fernando), 1887/88

Au Cirque: Ecuyere, 1888. Creator: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Au Cirque: Ecuyere, 1888

At the Circus: Horsewoman; Au cirque: ecuyere, 1888 (oil on vellum)
1768327 At the Circus: Horsewoman; Au cirque: ecuyere, 1888 (oil on vellum) by Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de (1864-1901); 26.7 (diam) cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: At the Circus)

Circus Scene (design for a fan) c. 1888 (w / c & gouache on paper)
CH376622 Circus Scene (design for a fan) c.1888 (w/c & gouache on paper) by Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de (1864-1901); Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; French, out of copyright

Circus of monkeys (chromolitho)
735777 Circus of monkeys (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Circus of monkeys)

The Edinburgh theatre destroyed by fire causing several victims, including an actor while... (colour litho)
2815441 The Edinburgh theatre destroyed by fire causing several victims, including an actor while... (colour litho) by Beltrame

Exceptional patrons (colour litho)
2783861 Exceptional patrons (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Exceptional patrons)

Poster advertising the Cirque d Ete, c. 1880 (colour litho)
CHT197831 Poster advertising the Cirque d Ete, c.1880 (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris, France; eArchives Charmet; French

Marceline the Droll & Otto Twigg, London Hippodrome
Marceline the Droll, the Spanish clown who who performed at the London Hippodrome in the first three years of it opening in 1900. Pictured with the Hippodromes ring master Mr Otto Twigg. Date: 1901

Circus poster with ringmaster, clowns and acrobats. 20th century

"Our Joes Happy Family - the Greatest Show on Earth"(colour litho)
818333 " Our Joes Happy Family - the Greatest Show on Earth" (colour litho) by Furniss, Harry (1854-1925) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Victorian scrap, Circus dogs in barrel jump. 19th century

At the Circus: The Dog Trainer, 1899 (black & colour chalks over graphite
877046 At the Circus: The Dog Trainer, 1899 (black & colour chalks over graphite, on white wove paper) by Toulouse-Lautrec

A nice royal gesture (colour litho)
2809039 A nice royal gesture (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: A nice royal gesture)

Hippodrome, Avenue d Alma, Paris (chromolitho)
1094517 Hippodrome, Avenue d Alma, Paris (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hippodrome, Avenue d Alma, Paris)

At the Circus: Acrobats, 1899 (black & colour chalks on white wove paper)
877047 At the Circus: Acrobats, 1899 (black & colour chalks on white wove paper) by Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de (1864-1901); 25.3x35.5 cm; Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown

The Circus Parade at Saint-Cloud, mid 19th century (colour litho)
CHT173551 The Circus Parade at Saint-Cloud, mid 19th century (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris, France; eArchives Charmet; French

Poster advertising the Fernando Circus, Paris (colour litho)
CHT197829 Poster advertising the Fernando Circus, Paris (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France; eArchives Charmet; French

The Bertram Mills Circus comes to town as one worried little boy looks down from the arms of a stilt walker anouncing where and when the citizen of Cambridge can see the circus. 1st April 1959

Actor Michael Crawford in character for the musical hit Barnum. 22nd May 1981

Entertainment Circus Children: 10 year old David Hibling, a Suffolk schoolboy has organised a " Save the Circus" petition which he intends to present to the local authorities in support of

T ROOSEVELT / JUDGE CIRCUS
THEODORE ROOSEVELT 26th American President depicted as a circus ringmaster

Horseback dancer at a circus
Horseback dancer dressed as a ballerina performs in the ring with some clowns and a beautiful white horse, all under the direction of the ringmaster. Date: 1890s

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

Lady in elaborate costume with three Borzois
Lady in an elaborate costume (with a vaguely circus feel) with three Borzois (Russian Wolfhounds). Date: 1950s

Le Cirque ( The Circus ), 1891. Artist: Georges-Pierre Seurat
Le Cirque ( The Circus ), 1891. This picture was exhibited in 1891 at the 7th Salon des Independants in Paris. During the exhibition Seurat died. From the Musee d Orsay, Paris

The Great-Little Random, 1887. Artist: Joseph Swain
The Great-Little Random, 1887. Little Lord Randolph Churchill is seen storming off in a huff, refusing to obey the Ringmasters instructions

Victorian Scrap - Circus Horse Rider jumping through a ring of fire - An exciting moment. late 19th century

Cartoon, ringmaster and performing elephants
Cartoon, a ringmaster with two performing elephants -- the one with the long, thin moustache is the theatre manager William Holland. 1883

Pigs and monkeys in a circus on a postcard. Date: circa 1890s

Caricature of George Sanger, circus proprietor
Caricature of George Sanger (1825-1911), English showman and circus proprietor. 1881

At the Circus: performing horse and monkey, 1899 (chalk, crayons and graphite)
BAL8180 At the Circus: performing horse and monkey, 1899 (chalk, crayons and graphite) by Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de (1864-1901); 44x26.7 cm; Private Collection; French, out of copyright

PENNELL: CONEY ISLAND. A view of Coney Island, Brooklyn. Pastel drawing by Joseph Pennell, c1906

CEREMONIAL UNIFORM, c1910. Studio photograph of a man in uniform, possibly that of a circus ringmaster or a hunt master

AMERICAN CIRCUS, 1874. The Circus. Oil on canvas, 1874, by A. Logan

The Showman - An Extinct Type. - character portrait by Phil May of a barker or the proprietor of a sideshow. A barker is a person who attempts to attract patrons to entertainment events

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"Captivating the Crowd: The Enigmatic Ringmaster" Step right up and witness the mesmerizing world of the ringmaster. With a charismatic smile, this master of ceremonies commands attention as he stands proudly in the center of the circus ring. Pointing with enthusiasm, his eyes sparkle with excitement as he directs our gaze towards acrobats skillfully juggling, daringly walking tightropes, and effortlessly balancing on unicycles. One iconic portrayal of this captivating character was brought to life by actor Michael Crawford in the musical hit Barnum on May 22nd, 1981. Dressed in vibrant attire and exuding theatrical flair, Crawford embodied the essence of a true ringmaster. His performance left audiences spellbound as they were transported into a world where dreams became reality under his guidance. But let us not forget that long before actors took to stage or canvas captured their images, Victorian scrapbooks immortalized these timeless figures. In one such scrapbook lies an enchanting illustration depicting a fearless horse rider at full gallop within the circus arena. This delicate piece serves as a reminder that even centuries ago, people marveled at these extraordinary performers. The allure of circuses transcends time; it is an art form that has captivated generations throughout history. An oil painting from c. 1913 showcases an entire circus scene bustling with energy and wonderment. Lions roar majestically while trapeze artists soar through mid-air defying gravity's grasp - all orchestrated by none other than our esteemed ringmaster. Intriguingly enough, it seems that even renowned French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec found inspiration in these magical spectacles. His brushstrokes bring to life equestrians gracefully maneuvering atop horses within grand arenas like Cirque Fernando or Au Cirque: Ecuyere - capturing both strength and elegance simultaneously.