John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is located in Sarasota, Florida. The museum was once owned by John Ringling, one of the original five owners of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. John and his wife, Mable, purchased the 20 acres of land on which the museum is now located in 1912. They spent their winters in Sarasota and eventually built a home. The family wanted to help the town of Sarasota develop into a thriving city, so they became involved in the community, purchased more land and eventually owned a quarter of Sarasota. When Ringling died in 1936, his mansion, art collection and estate was willed to the people of Florida. In the ten years following his death, the museum was open sporadically and not well maintained. Decades later, in 2000, the ownership of his estate was transferred from the State of Florida to Florida State University. Under the new ownership, the museum has thrived. Art pieces in the collection include sculptures and paintings by the Old Masters such as Titian, Veronese, El Greco, Rubens and Gainsborough. There are European, American and Asian masterworks, as well as casts of the original David by Michelangelo. Museum visitors can dine onsite at the Treviso Restaurant or the Banyan Café. The museum features a gift shop offering gifts, décor and books. Community, adult and family programs are regularly offered by the museum to help people in the community learn more about and appreciate art.