Florida - Sarasota, John Ringling Mansion and Museum of Art

Living Room, John Ringling Mansion, Sarasota, Florida
This view shows the organ and two well-known portraits of John and Mabel Ringling.  Here the late circus magnate entertained statesmen, diplomats and leaders in the artistic and professional world.

 - - -

Entrance to John Ringling Mansion, Sarasota, Florida
Thousands of people pass through this gate annually to visit the internationally famous home of John Ringling, the late circus magnate.  The Home and the Museum, located on the shores of beautiful Sarasota Bay, are open daily.

- - -

Master Bedroom, John Ringling Mansion, Sarasota, Florida
John Ringling's Bedroom is furnished in ornate Empire, consisting of a fine replica of the bedroom furniture of Napoleon III.  A large painting covers the entire ceiling.  The painting on the wall is of Pauline Bonaparte.

From a set of 12 postcards in a booklet.
The inside of the front cover reads:

The John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art
located in the city of Sarasota, Florida, houses one of the outstanding art collections in America and said to be next to the Louvre in Paris for its representations of the Old Masters works.  The collection represents thirty-five years of untiring efforts on the part of Mr. and Mrs. John Ringling, seeking out only the bet of Flemish, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, French and English masters and their outstanding paintings.  Well known names are well represented thruout the entire collection.  Other items of art works are well represented too, the Inner Court with its well arranged statuary, fountains and ancient columns in a setting of a terraced Italian sunken garden with tropical shrubs and flowers.  Wishing to leave a Memorial, Mr. Ringling left this entire Estate of thirty acres, his three million dollar Mansion and the estimated fourteen million dollar Art Museum to the State of Florida which now carries on in ownership and management.  The State of Florida intends to make this gift one of the most famous of Art Museums, from a standpoint of education, America could ever hope for.  The Museum building is detailed in Italian Renaissance and a visit to Europe is your by taking a tour thru this Museum.

The inside of the back cover reads:

The John Ringling Mansion ... a Venetian Palace, is situated back of the Art Museum on the shore of Sarasota Bay.  This was the home of John and Mabel Ringling for many years and it too houses outstanding objets d'art.  Period furniture, massive bed-room suites, mural ceilings, imported floor coverings, tapestry hangings and an inventory of choice collector's items abound in every room.  A visit thru this Mansion convinces one of the cultured life John and Mabel Ringling enjoyed.  This Estate named Ca'D'Zan (the house of John) is one of the outstanding tourist attractions in Florida and a stop here will convince the most critical, he has seen the best America has to offer in this line of sightseeing adventure.