Frederick Arthur Bridgman, American
Frank Would Later Deny Being Frightened By Their “Flying Princess” Stunt, But the Adult Diaper He Wore Suggested Otherwise, 1869-70
Oil on canvas
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Info, or links that point to more info, about this artist can be found here, here (archived if necessary), here, here, here, here (can be read in full for free on Fridays), here, here, and here, perhaps in addition to what’s in his Wikipedia page (Google translated French Wikipedia page has more).
/// The American Circus in France
shows a well-trained performer can dance
on a man’s upper thigh,
(he’s a very strong guy),
astride two broad-backed horses that prance.
/// A clown harlequin walks by their side,
to ensure that the steeds don’t collide.
he observes their wild ride
with disquiet and pride.
The equestrienne dancer’s his bride.
/// In the audience, back to the right
is a man— hair and beard of pure white.
He stares, not at the ring,
but at some off-stage thing
that has bathed (him alone) in bright light.
/// Nearly naked, a Native retreated
toward the band in the back, where he’s seated.
As an “Indian brave,”
bow and arrows he’ll wave.
He goes on when the horse act’s completed.
/// Shirtless man in a feathered headdress,
if confronted, would have to confess
he’s no savage, although
he is paid to seem so.
In this Circus, he’s found his success.
/// The young boy in his red leotard
views the horse-dancer with disregard.
He performs up much higher
as a swift trapeze flier,
and resents that he’s not the one starred.
/// Red-clad boy from the flying trapeze,
heard the ringmaster say to him, “Please!
Though you soar to great heights,
you don’t fill out your tights
the way she does. That’s her expertise!”
/// “The fact that our dancer is willing
to display how her costume she’s filling,
sells show tickets galore.
(Money’s what we work for.)
And that’s why she has earned the top billing.”
/// Biff’s cheat wife was a nag and high-strung.
She complained that she’d married too young.
Although Biff didn’t know,
she had wild oats to sow;
and these steeds, like all horses, were hung.