Desktop

Posted by Viewfinder (Bradenton, FL, United States) on 29 January 2009 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.

Here's a desktop BW of John Ringling, the man of the house, standing astride some of the stairs of his mansion "back in the day" when he was here. This photo sits on Ringling's desk, inside the mansion now. The Ringling story is fascinating, and sad.

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Comments (9)

tyan from Singapore, Singapore

tell me the story!This looks like a movie going on:)

29 Jan 2009 9:45am

@tyan: Well it is long and complicated. Ringling was one of several brothers; he was an entertainment person - the Ringling Bros./Barnum and Bailey circus in America was big as Disney back in the day. He was an investor in art and married to his beloved Mable. They decided to settle near the circus' winter quarters and chose Sarasota, where they built this mansion. This was during the gilded age period in American history. When the stock market crashed in the 1920s, Ringling lost most of his fortune. The house was finished, and was planned to be a mecca of sorts for all the glitteratti to gather. Unfortunately, Mable had diabetes and due to complications, she died after only 4 years in this beautiful place she and John designed. He lived on, remarried unsuccessfully, and later died in his early 70s, pretty much broke and broken. He left the estate to Florida. You might want to google his name and see what else you can find.

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

Wonderful shot. The title confuses me a bit because that looks like a piano and not a desk. Beautiful woods.

Such a sad end to his story.

29 Jan 2009 1:33pm

@Laurie: Those are letter holder thingies, not a music stand.

Barbara from Florida, United States

Well documented and framed. I like this image of an image. The story has me even more interested. So far it sounds very sad. Having all of the riches and "things" does not give happiness.

29 Jan 2009 1:56pm

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

Well look at that, very special Vf, hugs to Bella ;)

29 Jan 2009 2:21pm

Mandy Provan from Johannesburg, South Africa

How nice to see the manof this wonderful mansion!!! Big doggy tail wags to Bella!

29 Jan 2009 2:36pm

Judy from Brooksville, Florida, United States

I 'googled' Ringling before reading your response to Tyan ... and it is a sad story. My grandmother had tickets to take me to the circus in 1944 in Hartford, CT ... I was sick and couldn't go. God is GOOD!

29 Jan 2009 3:32pm