(Walt Disney Studios, 1959) Original production cel and panorama master background featuring Maleficent from the Oscar-nominated Disney classic Sleeping Beauty. The scene depicts the sorceress in an exquisite full-length pose with scepter and flowing cloak as she emerges from the interior of her gargantuan castle. The cel has been trimmed to image and applied to a vivid hand-painted production master pan background attributed to Eyvind Earle and his staff. Maleficent measures 10.75 x 7.75, with overall dimensions of 30 x 12.5; the background is removably corner-mounted to an overall size of 35.5 x 18.25. In fine condition.
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. A completely painted Earle background is extremely rare as his time as a background painter was very limited. His stylistic influence is readily apparent throughout this feature film referred to by Walt Disney as the 'height of color.'
