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Dancing Bear Collection

In the quaint Russian village of 1877, a peculiar sight unfolded before the mesmerized onlookers

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Performing bear in a Russian village, 1877

Performing bear in a Russian village, 1877. A print from The Illustrated London News, (19 May 1877). Hand-coloured later

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: The Election, Chairing the Member, illustration from Hogarth Restored

The Election, Chairing the Member, illustration from Hogarth Restored
STC451192 The Election, Chairing the Member, illustration from Hogarth Restored: The Whole Works of the celebrated William Hogarth, re-engraved by Thomas Cook, pub

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Buffoons in a Village, 1857 (oil on canvas)

Buffoons in a Village, 1857 (oil on canvas)
BAL152047 Buffoons in a Village, 1857 (oil on canvas) by Riss, Francois Nicholas (1804-86); 55x73.5 cm; Museum of Tropinin and His Contemporaries, Moscow, Russia

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: When the bear heard the music he could not help beginning to dance

When the bear heard the music he could not help beginning to dance
3704831 When the bear heard the music he could not help beginning to dance, from Little Brother & Little Sister and Other Tales by the Brothers Grimm, pub.1917 (litho) by Rackham

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Oil Ampula in the Form of a Dancing Bear, 200s (bronze)

Oil Ampula in the Form of a Dancing Bear, 200s (bronze)
499802 Oil Ampula in the Form of a Dancing Bear, 200s (bronze) by Roman Imperial Period (27 BC-476 AD); 14.6x10.4x9.5 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art, OH, USA; Purchase from the J. H

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Going to the Fair (engraving)

Going to the Fair (engraving)
729563 Going to the Fair (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Going to the Fair. Engraving by W J Palmer after original artwork by G Regamey)

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Making Him Dance (colour litho)

Making Him Dance (colour litho)
818309 Making Him Dance (colour litho) by Hardy, Dudley (1867-1922); Private Collection; (add.info.: Making Him Dance. Russo-Japanese War cartoon.); Look and Learn / Elgar Collection

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Street Dogs barking at a Dancing Bear and his Keeper in Constantinople (engraving)

Street Dogs barking at a Dancing Bear and his Keeper in Constantinople (engraving)
1036760 Street Dogs barking at a Dancing Bear and his Keeper in Constantinople (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Extinct Types of Old London Life (engraving)

Extinct Types of Old London Life (engraving)
1626816 Extinct Types of Old London Life (engraving) by Petherick, Horace (1839-1919); Private Collection; (add.info.: Extinct Types of Old London Life)

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Augustin-Eugene Scribe with Characters, 19th century. Creator: Victor Adam

Augustin-Eugene Scribe with Characters, 19th century. Creator: Victor Adam
Augustin-Eugene Scribe with Characters, 19th century

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: The Art of Ingeniously Tormenting, February 8, 1808. February 8, 1808

The Art of Ingeniously Tormenting, February 8, 1808. February 8, 1808
The Art of Ingeniously Tormenting, February 8, 1808

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: K - An Alphabet by Hans Weiditz, c1520-1521, (1908). Creator: Hans Weiditz

K - An Alphabet by Hans Weiditz, c1520-1521, (1908). Creator: Hans Weiditz
K - An Alphabet by Hans Weiditz, c1520-1521, (1908). After designs by Durer. From " The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs, Volume 12 - October 1907 to March 1908"

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: The bear trainers. Old Moscow, 1911. Artist: Vasnetsov, Appolinari Mikhaylovich (1856-1933)

The bear trainers. Old Moscow, 1911. Artist: Vasnetsov, Appolinari Mikhaylovich (1856-1933)
The bear trainers. Old Moscow, 1911. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Gypsies and dancing bears on the road. Artist: Underwood & Underwood

Gypsies and dancing bears on the road. Artist: Underwood & Underwood
Gypsies and dancing bears on the road. Stereoscopic card detail

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Dancing Bear, 1785. Artist: C Knight

Dancing Bear, 1785. Artist: C Knight
Dancing Bear, 1785. Illustration from Social Caricature in the Eighteenth Century... With over two hundred illustrations by George Paston [pseudonym of Emily Morse Symonds], (London, 1905)

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: The Dancing Bear, Brimham Rocks

The Dancing Bear, Brimham Rocks near Pately Bridge in Yorkshire. This shows wind erosion of horizontally-bedded sedimentary rock

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Gendarmes taking census forms to an encampment of itinerant gipsies in their caravan, 1895

Gendarmes taking census forms to an encampment of itinerant gipsies in their caravan, 1895. A boy in the foreground leads a muzzled dancing bear. From Le Petit Journal. (Paris, May 1895)

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: O, Lovely Peace, 1875. Artist: Joseph Swain

O, Lovely Peace, 1875. Artist: Joseph Swain
O, Lovely Peace, 1875. Bismarck plays a penny whistle and the Russian Bear dances. The German Emperor dances along happily

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Queen Ulrika Eleonora d. AÔé¼ Landscape dancing bear

Queen Ulrika Eleonora d. AÔé¼ Landscape dancing bear
Queen Ulrika Eleonora d.a, Landscape with dancing bear, painting, genre art, 1682, oil on canvas, Height, 44 cm (17.3 inch), Width, 140 cm (55.1 inch), Signed

Background imageDancing Bear Collection: Oil Ampula Form Dancing Bear 200s Italy Roman

Oil Ampula Form Dancing Bear 200s Italy Roman
Oil Ampula in the Form of a Dancing Bear, 200s. Italy, Roman, 3rd century. Bronze; overall: 14.6 x 10.4 x 9.5 cm (5 3/4 x 4 1/8 x 3 3/4 in.)


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In the quaint Russian village of 1877, a peculiar sight unfolded before the mesmerized onlookers. A performing bear took center stage, captivating hearts with its rhythmic movements and enchanting presence. The air was filled with anticipation as villagers gathered to witness this extraordinary spectacle. Centuries earlier, in an illustration from Hogarth Restored titled "The Election IV Chairing the Member, " a dancing bear made an appearance during a lively political event. As buffoons entertained the crowd, their antics were heightened by the bear's graceful steps. It was a moment that brought laughter and joy to all who witnessed it. The allure of dancing bears transcended time and place. In Constantinople, street dogs barked excitedly at a dancing bear and its keeper, creating a vibrant scene captured in an engraving. Similarly, in Old London Life, another engraving showcased extinct types of entertainment where dancing bears played their part in delighting audiences. A bronze Oil Ampula shaped like a dancing bear from ancient times reminded us of how deeply ingrained these creatures were within our cultural history. Their ability to evoke emotions through movement was truly remarkable. Whether it be going to fairs or making people dance with lithographs such as "Going to the Fair" or "Making Him Dance, " these majestic animals held sway over our imaginations for centuries. One cannot help but recall Augustin-Eugene Scribe surrounded by characters from his plays during the 19th century; perhaps he too found inspiration in watching bears dance gracefully across stages. From ancient civilizations to modern-day illustrations and engravings, one thing remains constant: when music fills their ears, bears cannot resist moving rhythmically - they are born dancers at heart.