The Circus

A beautiful, highly illustrated and authoritative history of the circus around the world, which charts the evolution of travelling entertainment from antiquity to the present day.

This beautiful book charts the development of the circus as an art form around the world, from antiquity to the present day.Using over 200 circus related artworks from the French National Library's private collections, celebrated cultural historian Pascal Jacob tells the story of travelling entertainers and their art and trade. From nomadic animal tamers of the Dark Ages to European jugglers and acrobats of the 1800s, from the use of the circus as Soviet propaganda to the 20th-century Chinese performance art renaissance, this is an exhaustive history with a uniquely international scope.Jacob draws on both rare and famous artworks, including prints dating from the 13th century, and paintings by Picasso and Dore. In doing so he demonstrates the circus to be a visual and physical masterpiece, constantly moving and evolving, and just as exciting an experience for audiences now as it was 1,000 years ago.

The magic of the circus is captured in this stunning book, along with its evolution from the 13th century to present day Cultural historian Pascal Jacob has plundered the French National Library's archives to collate more than 200 artworks which chart a story of travelling entertainers, jugglers, acrobats, nomadic animal tamers and the iconic clown. The result is a visual feast you'll return to again and again.

Auteur

Pascal Jacob

Texte du rabat

Winner of 2019 British Book Design & Production Award for Scholarly, Academic & Reference Books This beautiful book charts the development of the circus as an art form around the world, from antiquity to the present day. Using over 200 circus related artworks from the French National Library's private collections, celebrated cultural historian Pascal Jacob tells the story of travelling entertainers and their art and trade. From nomadic animal tamers of the Dark Ages to European jugglers and acrobats of the 1800s, from the use of the circus as Soviet propaganda to the 20th-century Chinese performance art renaissance, this is an exhaustive history with a uniquely international scope. Jacob draws on both rare and famous artworks, including prints dating from the 13th century, and paintings by Picasso and Doré. In doing so he demonstrates the circus to be a visual and physical masterpiece, constantly moving and evolving, and just as exciting an experience for audiences now as it was 1,000 years ago.

Contenu

Foreword by Marius Kwint ORIGINS: ANTIQUITY - 1770 THE GRAND HIGHWAY A Day at the Circus The Foundations of the 'Grande Banque d'Occident' Jugglers, Entertainers and Acrobats Priests, Gypsies, Merchants: Travellers' Tales Fairs, Construction Sites and Rostrums: The First Performance Venues Preparing the Ground and Codes for Western Acrobatics IMPACT AND DOMINATION: 1770-1880 THE WEST CONQUERS THE WORLD It All Began with a Circle Families and Troupes: The Great Dynastic Ventures The Franconi Dynasty A Huge Building Site: The Circus Joins the City Equestrians Triumph Throughout Europe Pauline Cuzent Pantomimes and the Emergence of Narrative in the Circus Circus Bodies: The Advent of Spectacular Gymnastics Jules Léotard Whiteface and Auguste Clowns Foottit and Chocolat CHANGES:1880-1930 OF MEN AND BEASTS Exoticism, Wild Beasts and Splendour, German-Style Hans Stosch-Sarrasini Men and Beasts Claire Héliot Setting a System for Mobility: The Big Top America, America The Towering Figure of America and its Influence in Europe Phineas Taylor Barnum "Monsieur Loyal": The Spoken Word Enters the Circus Roger Lanzac INFLUENCES: 1930-2015 THE BIG PLUNGE The Soviet Circus: State Circus and Vehicle for Propaganda Margarita Nazarova Karandash The Chinese Acrobatic Theatre: a Renaissance Xia Ju Hua The End of a World: The American Circus in Turmoil John Ringling North The Circo Fellini: A Fresh Perspective on the Ring, In Italy and Elsewhere The Revival of the Circus Arts in France, Quebec and Belgium Annie Fratellini FINALE: A Circus for Today and Tomorrow Glossary Bibliography Index of Names