Fantastic original unsigned colored pencil character sketch of a young faun loading his pan-pipe with berries, 8.75 x 6.5 done by artist Joe Rinaldi in 1939, for The Pastoral Symphony portion of Fantasia. Beautifully detailed sketch shows the faun, seated on a log, concentrating intently as he drops a berry into his flute. Matted and framed to an overall size of 16.75 x 12.75. Backing of frame bears a Basmajian Collection stamp and an informational label providing details of the sketch including “Production #2004; Sequence 4–1; Sketch #1259 (1 of 3); Artist: Joe Rinaldi.” In fine condition.
When the majority of the studio’s animated artwork was being thrown away or reused during World War II, Disney employee John Basmajian was given permission to salvage pieces that were to be discarded from the Disney ‘morgue.’ He meticulously cleaned and preserved each piece, saving more artwork from destruction than any other person of his time. This original watercolor from Disney’s highly acclaimed third feature film came from the historic 1984 sale of Basmajian’s collection through Christie’s, which firmly established animation art as fine art. It is highly prized and sought after by collectors around the world.
