old master drawings - Museum of Fine Arts - Florida State University

About: The John and Mable Ringling Museum of ArtFebruary/March2009The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was establishedin 1927 in Sarasota, Florida. The museum, which is the legacy ofJohn Ringling (1866-1936) and his wife, Mable (1875-1929), is theofficial State Art Museum of Florida. Featured are 21 galleries ofEuropean paintings as well as Cypriot antiquities, Asian Art,American paintings, and contemporary art. Newly opened in 2007,the Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing serves as the travelingexhibition area of the museum.View of the Johnand MableRingling Museumof Art, Sarasota,Florida.Although better known for its large-scale European paintings,the museum also holds a collection of old master drawings.Comprised of unparalleled examples by well known artists, theexhibition is a significant accomplishment for the institution. TheOld Master Drawings spans three centuries, from the late 15 th to thelate 18 th , and has between 40 and 50 pieces. The highlight of thecollection, which is among the finest in the country, are works fromthe Baroque period of the 17 th century. The old master exhibitionexpresses the vast variety and invention of the Ringling’s works-onpaperwhich shows quality, scope of drawing media, technique, andgenre. This provides the museum’s visitors the valuableopportunity to understand the medium as well as the Ringling’spermanent collection as a whole.* Information borrowed from the Ringling Museum website (www.ringling.org) for educational purposes onlyIntroduction Page 4