Interior View of Astley's Amphitheatre
Artistafter
William Capon
(British, 1757 - 1827)
Date1777
MediumPrint on paper
DimensionsSHEET: 7 1/16 x 10 1/4 in. (18 x 26 cm)
IMAGE: 5 7/16 x 9 1/16 in. (13.8 x 23 cm)
IMAGE: 5 7/16 x 9 1/16 in. (13.8 x 23 cm)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LinePossibly a museum purchase
Object numberSN1546.130.9
Equestrian artist Philip Astley (1742 – 1814) is credited with creating the basic form of the modern circus— a diverse program of acts including acrobatics, clowning, and horsemanship performed in a 42 foot diameter ring. He staged the first of such performances at his riding school outside of London in 1768. Astley would continue to shape the early history of the circus arts through performances staged at Astley’s Amphitheatre and other permanent venues he helped establish across the European continent.
This image highlights the innovative shape of Astley’s performance venue and includes a clown sharing the ring with the bareback rider. On the façade of the building a decorative tower of acrobatic figures alludes to the other entertainments that would be featured in the Amphitheatre.
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