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(Walt Disney Studios, 1959) Outstanding original panoramic concept storyboard painting by Eyvind Earle for Sleeping Beauty, portraying Prince Phillip and his steed, Samson, ready to engage with Maleficent, shown perched atop the castle towers as an immense fire-breathing dragon. The terrific scene is flawlessly realized as Earle contrasts the striking size and strength disparity of the two opponents. Phillip is portrayed as the small but undeterred fairy tale hero, courageous and holding high his magical Sword of Truth, while Maleficent as the great ebon dragon looms inexorably, hundreds of feet high with its purple belly, jagged wings, and bright jettison of lightning-like fire-blast. Earle frames this pre-battle snapshot in brilliantly uniform detail, integrating his trademark trees and shrubs, a foreboding and blackening night sky, and a mountainous multi-spired castle. Accomplished in tempera on 23.25 x 9 artist's board, signed in the lower right corner in pink paint, “Eyvind Earle.” In fine condition, with tack holes to the corners. Disney artist Eyvind Earle was Sleeping Beauty's production designer, and Disney gave him a significant amount of freedom in designing the settings and selecting colors for the film. Earle also painted the majority of the backgrounds himself, and his stylistic influence is readily apparent in the final product.
