“The Greatest Show on Earth” Mural
Artist
William Woodward
(American, 1935 – 2023)
Date1990
CultureAmerican
MediumOil on canvas
ClassificationPaintings
Credit LineGift of the Feld Family and Feld Entertainment Inc., 2012
Object numberSN11328
Over the centuries, artists have drawn inspiration from the prowess of the performer and the breathtaking spirit of the circus. In 1989, Kenneth Feld commissioned the artist William Woodward to create a mural for the lobby of Feld corporate headquarters in Virginia that would capture the excitement and personalities of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.
Woodward portrayed not only the Ringling show of the era, but captured the heroic spectacle of the circus in a new way. With the assistance of his brother Thomas, Woodward spent eighteen months researching and developing the mural’s design and then another six months to execute the painting. His use of color, light and form, resulted in a powerful composition that bursts forth from the canvas with spontaneity that is both exhilarating and timeless.
For 22 years, the mural infused the lobby with the splendor and grandeur of the Ringling show. With the move of Feld Entertainment, Inc. to Florida, the mural was donated to the Ringling Museum in 2012. Now in its permanent home, the mural continues to communicate the magic and excitement of the circus to visitors of all ages.
On View
On viewLocation
- Tibbals Learning Center, 1st floor, Entry Gallery
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