Auction Archive

"Disney Portrait Gallery Series" Set of 10, with Queen!

Matching set!  All numbered #314!With the premiere of the "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" motion picture in 1937, Walt Disney took the art of animation to new heights.  It was the first animated feature ever produced and earned Walt Disney a special Academy Award for the creation of "a significant screen innovation...and provided a great new entertainment field for the motion picture industry."One of the greatest admirers of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was a San Francisco gallery owner named Guthrie Courvoisier, who in 1938 approached Walt and Roy Disney with an idea.  Since "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was comprised of thousands of original paintings on celluloid sheets, might a carefully-selected portfolio of these images be released to the public as fine art?The idea astonished Walt and Roy.  Cels had been previously regarded only as the means of creating the moving image for the screen, and had often been washed for re-use -- or simply thrown away!  Guthrie Courvoisier opened the Disney brothers' eyes to this new art form -- the origin of animation art."The Disney Portrait Gallery Series" is a unique series of 10 hand-inked, hand-painted limited edition cel images from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" recreating the look of the rare original animation art that was released by Mr. Courvoisier in 1938-1939.A total of ten images make up "The Disney Portrait Gallery Series" including all Seven Dwarfs, "Snow White," "The Old Witch," and "The Queen."  The "Snow White" image was released in March 1997, and one new portrait was released in succession every other month, until the entire series was complete.  Only collectors who purchased the first nine pieces had the option to purchase the tenth piece. Appraised Value: $7,500.00 Original Retail Price: $695.00 eachApproximate Dimensions (in inches)Framed Picture: 9.5 x 9.5 (All are the same) Matte Opening: 7 x 7 (All are the same) Additional Information/Comments"The Disney Portrait Gallery Series." A unique set of 10 hand-inked, hand-painted limited edition cel images from Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs recreating the look of the rare original animation art that was released by Mr. Courvoisier in 1938-1939. Edition size: 750 (with the exception of The Queen with only 350). Only those who purchased the original set of nine were entitled to purchase the 10th (The Queen). All 10 have the same edition number of 314 (e.g. Serial #314 of 750).