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John Steuart Curry

Tamara Codona on the Trapeze (Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus), 1932

Description

Maker

Title

Tamara Codona on the Trapeze (Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus)

Year

1932

Medium

Charcoal on paper

Materials/Techniques

Materials

Supports

Dimensions

54.6 x 43.5 cm (21 1/2 x 17 1/8 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

Signed and dated in charcoal, bottom center: "John Steuart Curry/1932." In pencil below that, "21 x 18 Toulara"

Type

Credit

Museum purchase: Gift of Mr. Houghton P. Metcalf, Jr. and the Jesse Metcalf Fund

Object Number

1988.007

Projects & Publications

Publications

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Circus

August 1, 2014 - February 22, 2015

In this drawing, European aerialist Tamara is hoisted up to the highwire as figures in the audience lean forward in nervous ancipation. She had joined the Flying Codonas, a group of trapeze artists who were stars of the circus world, in 1931. Tamara’s act was particularly dangerous because she performed without a net.

John Steuart Curry spent several months in 1932 traveling with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Fascinated by the strength and bravery of the aerialists, he executed multiple drawings and sketches of the acrobats in action which he later used as studies for paintings and prints.

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in Copyright. This object is Tamara Codona on the Trapeze (Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus) with the accession number of 1988.007. To request a higher resolution file, please submit an online request.