Clowns and Horses

Art Historical Context

**Clowns and Horses** Lawrence W. Ladd,. 1880* Drawing; Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Bates and Isabel LowryStep into the whimsical world of Lawrence W. Ladd's *Clowns and Horses* (ca. 1880), a lively drawing that captures the joy of circus life in late 19th-century America Active from 1865 to 1895, Ladd crafted this piece during the Gilded Age, when grand traveling circuses like those of P.T. Barnum enthralled audiences with their blend of spectacle, humor, and equestrian feats. The artwork's tags—clown and horse—highlight its focus on these iconic performers, evoking the era's...