DISNEY, Walt - FEILD, Robert D.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

The Art of Walt Disney. First edition, presentation copy, inscribed by the subject on the front free endpaper, "To Elsworth, with best wishes, Walt Disney". This copy of Feild's influential study contains original artwork of nudes by six Disney artists.Robert Feild (1893-1979) was a professor within the Fine Arts Department at Harvard when Disney received an honorary degree in 1938. At the time, there was controversy whether Disney's work should be considered art. The following year Harvard terminated Feild's employment, and his departure caused some significant media attention.This book, written with the "full co-operation" of Disney and published during Second World War, seeks to validate the study of animation art as a legitimate academic discipline and also appeal to America's war effort (now that "Mickey has donned the uniform").The original illustrations comprise:i) ink drawings, including a snake, apple, corkscrew, nude figures, etc., signed "Roy Williams", with inscription "I like to doodle don't you Ike to too?" (reverse of plate 14, opposite p. 143);ii) coloured pencil drawing of the back of a female nude making a telephone call, signed "Andy '45", with caption "...Yes!...I understand... it's a 'Come as you are party'..." (reverse of plate 19, opposite p. 153);iii) ink and coloured pencil drawing of a female nude, signed "Gesteland", with caption "To Elsworth with best wishes, Bob Gesteland" (reverse of plate 22, opposite p. 159);iv) ink and coloured pencil drawing

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