Although we admire works of art for their aesthetic qualities and the pleasure they bring us, the visual arts often address social injustice and send political messages. Three works form The Ringling’s collection exemplify how art has been used in this manner.
Many people have yet to discover The Ringling Art Library, one of the largest and most comprehensive in the southeastern United States! Read a history of the library from the Ca' d'Zan to its current state-of-the-art home.
Five immense canvases wow visitors upon entering the galleries of the Museum of Art. Learn five facts about The Triumph of the Eucharist series by Peter Paul Rubens.
Legend has it that during construction in the 1970s or 1980s, 22 exquisite Renaissance watches were found beneath the art museum’s office floorboards... Mysteries surround the objects John Ringling purchased from Ava Vanderbilt Belmont.
Blue was once one of the most difficult colors to attain, making it even more expensive than gold. When a patron commissioned a work of art, he or she would usually specify the amount of money an artist should spend on the blue.
The books previously owned by John and Mable Ringing hold an honored place within the Library’s Special Collections. While most of John Ringling's books are in remarkably good condition (considering they were stored without air condition for many decades!) some require conservation. Take a look behind the scenes at the conservation of a book that lead John Ringling to purchase a painting in the Museum's collection.
