Saturday
Headed south down the Gulf coast, I am surprised to see a prisoner work crew along the road wearing actual prison gear, black and white stripes. This would not be PC in California, but does come in handy in case they decide to wander off.
Sarasota has long been the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Since 1948 the Ringling Circus Museum has been a storehouse for the huge bandwagons, animal cage wagons, and calliopes of the circus in its heyday.
Circus magnate John Ringling came here in 1927 to make Sarasota his home and built his incredibly lavish mansion, Ca'D'Zan, (House of John)
at a cost of $1.5 million.
It has 32 rooms and 14 baths and is modeled after a doge's palace in Venice.
The house is interesting as a study in opulence, best described as circus Gothic highlighted with Ringling rococo.
Many of the furnishings came from the Astor and Jay Gould mansions in New York in the Italian and French Renaissance styles of
the Louis XIV to XVI.
the Louis XIV to XVI.
Out back on the huge marble terrace, it's like being on St. Mark's Square in Venice minus the pigeons. I'm told there is a genuine Venetian gondola somewhere but I didn't see it.
Ringling not only lavished his fortune on the house, but on his own personal art museum, also on the grounds.
It contains this country's largest number of works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Gainsborough and other well know artists.
This walkway outside the museum is a mosaic
of beautiful marble pieces.
At his death in 1936, Ringling bequeathed his entire estate--the museum, residence and art treasures -- to the state of Florida.
Very cold and windy, choppy water in the Bay. The average temps in Florida are usually in the 70s in the winter, but not this winter.
This year hasn't been normal in more ways than one, for me at least.
It's where I've found total bliss this year.
Ringling not only lavished his fortune on the house, but on his own personal art museum, also on the grounds.
It contains this country's largest number of works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Gainsborough and other well know artists.
This walkway outside the museum is a mosaic
of beautiful marble pieces.
At his death in 1936, Ringling bequeathed his entire estate--the museum, residence and art treasures -- to the state of Florida.
Very cold and windy, choppy water in the Bay. The average temps in Florida are usually in the 70s in the winter, but not this winter.
This year hasn't been normal in more ways than one, for me at least.
It's where I've found total bliss this year.
Keep on truckin, or doodle buggin. Gonna be 70 degrees tmrw when superbowl 50 kicks off...we will miss havin dogs and chili like in the past years! Maybe just chug down to Holders for a senior special...Take care and safe travels...Bob & Peggy
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ReplyDeleteSo glad you have found total bliss! We miss you here, though.
ReplyDeleteJonna
The estate looks SO much like St. Marks...wow! Cool stuff. I love your new "normal!" XOXO
ReplyDeleteMy nephew & wife (in Greenbrae CA) both graduated from the Ringling School of Art & Design in Sarasota, so I've been to the school & museum, but haven't seen the lavish (understatement) mansion. Looks to me like it rivals Hearst Castle!
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