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The Travelling Circus
The Travelling Circus

The Travelling Circus

Artist (1871 - 1957)
Date1906
MediumWatercolour on paper
Dimensions27 × 35.8 cm
ClassificationsWatercolours
Credit LineCollection & image © Hugh Lane Gallery. Bequeathed by Josephine Webb, 1924. © The Estate of Jack Butler Yeats.
Object number599
DescriptionExcerpt from catalogue accompanying Oskar Kokoschka and Jack B.Yeats exhibition at Compton Verney late 2008.

A Travelling Circus
1906
Watercolour on paper
Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane.

Yeats probably amalgamated several separate observations together to form this image of a travelling circus. A large stream of townsfolk leads the viewers eye towards the circus tent in the composition.Close to the entrance is a caravan, the side of which advertises the kinds of unusual animals and reptiles that are to be seen.In the centre of the composition,close to the crowd stands the circus ringmaster,wearing ared jacket and a black top hat. At the back of the tent a small group of townsfolk have an impromptu meeting with some of the performers.Capturing the scene at dusk gives added theatricality as the light inside the tent contrasts with the fading day oustide.
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