ARTIST'S COMMENT:
"THE AMAZING PALOMINIS"
(copied from the original publicity photo, c. 1890's)

As far as I could learn from my grandsire, Titus Appaloosius, he got this autographed picture from Bernardo Palomini himself, during a performance at the New York Hippodrome in his early colthood. Further research unearthed something of the career of this centaur circus family.

Palomini was actually born under the name Bernard Cravache, in the commune of Voissy-les-Centaures in central France, in 1865. He apparently ran away with a provincial circus in his youth; working first as a roustabout, then learning juggling and acrobatics. On a brief return to his home village, he fell in love with, and eventually married, Marie-Claire Micheval; and persuaded her to join him in his act.

They had several children: Michel, Felice (nicknamed "Fanon"), Therese and Hippolyte. As soon as each was old enough, Bernard (who had now adopted the more exotic-sounding stage name of Palomini) instructed them in the rudiments of the circus arts.

It was then, in 1890, that he came up with what would be his most popular stunt. As a young colt, Bernard had been accustomed to hunting small fowl with a lightweight bow; in his performing career, he had capped his acrobatic routine with a display of trick archery. Now he trained his foals in the same skills; and at the climax of each performance, Bernard would circle the ring at full gallop with one of them (Felice is pictured here) perched upon his back. Both would shoot simultaneously at balloons and paper targets thrown by Marie-Claire and the other children; their aim was so accurate, that not once did anyone see them miss their mark.

The family soon became internationally famous; and in 1912, when he formally retired the act, Bernardo Palomini was able to purchase a vineyard in Provence, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died at the age of 87, in 1953.