Ca’ d’Zan – The Ringling Mansion in Sarasota, Florida. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
On the shore of Sarasota Bay in Florida, lies Ca’ d’Zan, the sprawling 66-acre estate of John Ringling (1866-1936). As the founder of The Ringling Bros. Circus, which later merged with Barnum & Bailey, he used his fortune to build a glorious home and art museum on the grounds. The historic 56-room, 36,000-square-foot mansion is part Venetian marvel, part American extravagance — all presented with the colorful showmanship of a great entertainer. Like Boldt Castle and Singer Castle in the Thousand Islands, it also served as a token of John’s love for his wife Mable.
Photographer Michael Aaron Gallagher taking pictures on the marble terrace at Ca’ d’Zan in Sarasota, Florida.
Ca’ d’Zan, which means “House of John” in the Venetian dialect, was designed by American architect Dwight James Baum in the Mediterranean Revival style of architecture. Using fixtures, design element and home decor acquired from other estates, the inspiration behind the look and overall aesthetic was the opulent beauty of the Italian city of Venice. The architect himself was related to author L. Frank Baum (who wrote The Wizard of Oz book series). He also graduated from my alma mater in 1909 and designed Hendricks Chapel on the Syracuse University campus (where I once attended a lecture by photographer Annie Leibovitz).
The mansion has appeared in the movies Great Expectations (1998), starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke and Parker (2013), starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez.
From a chandelier in the main hall that originally adorned the lobby of the famed Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, to the imported 16th Century Spanish tiles, terra cotta façade restored by Boston Valley Terra Cotta and the colored glass panes on the windows, the resulting mansion was an eclectic mosaic of artistic and cultural beauty. Many of the bronze and marble sculptures in the courtyard are replicas of famous works of art produced by Fonderia Chiurazzi, including a marble statue by the pool of Venus de’ Medici, which was restored by conservators from Evergreene Architectural Arts. Over the years, Stevenson Architects and International Fine Arts Conservation Studios have also been involved in restoration projects at Ca’ d’Zan, including reviving the pool with its deck of Spanish-style tiles.
On my first visit to Ca’ d’Zan, I explored the grounds, visited The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, which is adjacent to the main house, and took a self-guided tour of the first floor of the mansion. If I am ever able to return, I would like to properly tour the rest of the mansion, visit the circus museum and photograph more of the art on display. In the mean time, here are some of the photographs I took during my initial visit. Enjoy!
– Michael Aaron Gallagher
P.S. To read my travel story about The Cardiff Giant, which was famously replicated by another circus mogul, P.T. Barnum (click here).
Swimming Pool at Ca’ d’Zan. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
“Apollo Belvedere” bronze sculpture by Fonderia Chiurazzi with “Young Centaur” in the background. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
The Cloisters at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Sphynx sculpture on the grounds at Ca’ d’Zan. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
The entrance to Ca’ d’Zan. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Marble fountain in the courtyard of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
“Old Centaur” bronze sculpture by Fonderia Chiurazzi. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Italian art in Gallery 18 at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
The oldest French harpsichord in the world in Gallery 15 at The Ringling Museum of Art. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
“Venus de’ Medici” marble sculpture by Fonderia Chiurazzi, standing by the pool at Ca’ d’Zan. It was restored by conservators from Evergreene Architectural Arts. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Beautiful oil painting from 1770 titled, “Melancholy Young Lover” by the French artist Jean-Baptiste Greuze at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Palm trees in the courtyard at Ca’ d’Zan. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
The size and scope of the art galleries at Ca’ d’Zan is remarkable. Shown here are two oil paintings by the artist Peter Paul Rubens. Both painted in 1625, on the left is “The Defenders of the Eucharist” and on the right is “The Four Evangelists.” Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
“Plowing in the Nivernais (Labourages nivernais)” oil painting from 1850 by Rosa Bonheur and “Elephants Attacked by Two Tigers” patinated bronze sculpture from 1890 by Japanese artist Makino Kōshū at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
The front of Ca’ d’Zan – The Ringling Mansion. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
From 1926, the compass rose tile Zodiac mosaic with astrological symbols on the walkway at Ca’ d’Zan. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
The Courtyard at The Ringling Mansion’s Museum of Art features a variety of classical style Italian sculptures. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.