Englishman Philip Astley, a decorated soldier in the French and Indian War, was known for his ability to train horses. Astly wished to reach the status of trick-riders who displayed extraordinary agility while riding. He opened a riding school in London in 1768--the ring was circular, thus leading to the word circus. Although the shows of Astly and his students drew big audiences, he wanted to stand out from other riding schools, so in 1770, he employed acrobats, tight-rope walkers, and jugglers who entertained in between the equestrian performances. In 1782, Astly opened his first official circus, the Amphitheatre Anglois, in Paris. Exotic animals, clowns, and ethnic acts were added in the 19th century, and the circus became one of the biggest forms of entertainment in Europe. In Paris, there were mobile street circuses. The circus was not as expensive as other forms of entertainment, mainly the opera, so it enjoyed a wider audience. But like the cabaret and the opera, it was a place to see and be seen. Female equestrians were often solicited for sexual services outside of the circus, and many of them also did ccabaret acts. The circus was indeed a social zoo, and artists jumped at the opportunity to represent this lively world--one of exoticism and thrills.

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