St. Armands Statues

John Ringling's vision for St. Armands Key was as a people-friendly place of broad boulevards, beautiful homes, classical statues, lush landscaping, elegant shops and restaurants, and a central park for musical performances. His travels to the Renaissance cities of Italy inspired his vision. The classical sculpture he saw there combined the realistic portrayal of individual beauty and the humanistic aspects of idealized beauty.  There are 16 Ringling-era statues located on our central park and adjacent medians. They are of stone or bronze, are approximately full size, and represent classical or Renaissance themes. 

In 2007 the St. Armands Residents Association undertook the Save Our Statutes (SOS) project, under the leadership of resident Edward Pinto. SOS's goal was the preservation of the 16 statues John Ringling purchased in the 1920s and the addition of 21 new statues designed to enhance his legacy. Two of the new statues, "FLORA" and "SCULPTURE", are copies of Ringling era statues in the collection of the Ringling Museum. All of the new statues evoke attributes of St. Armands and Sarasota.  The 21 new statues added in 2007 were selected to be consistent to the Ringling-era statues and are marble, hand carved, and represent classical themes.

SOS's work was completed in one year. On February 2, 2008 the St. Armands community celebrated SOS's completion and its rededication to John Ringling's vision and the countless others who created Sarasota, the cultural jewel of Florida.  This celebration took place on St. Armands at THE ALLEGORY OF SARASOTA, HER SEVEN VIRTUES, which is a parklet in the median of John Ringling Blvd where it connects with St. Armands Circle on the east side.  

The plaque dedicating the Seven Virtues notes that John Ringling foresaw Sarasota as a metropolitan city distinguished by its cultural facilities. Ringling had observed that “Though Life is Short, Art is Long”: