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A Peter Ellenshaw Darby O'Gill Background Matte Painting.

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
A Peter Ellenshaw Darby O'Gill Background Matte Painting.
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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 Jun 21 @ 10:00 (UTC-07:00 : PDT/MST)
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(Disney, 1959) A matte painting on glass of King Brian’s throne room from "Darby O’Gill and the Little People” painted by Disney Legend Peter Ellenshaw. Walt Disney first met Ellenshaw painting mattes for Disney’s first all live-action film "Treasure Island.” Ellenshaw was a master of matte-on-glass painting, a practical effect technique in which elaborate, fantastic, or historical details painted on glass are filmed on location, adding them into the scene. For "Darby O’Gill and the Little People,” Ellenshaw’s talent combined with oversized props and sets created the illusion of miniature leprechauns side-by-side with full-sized humans. This painting is seen as Darby, played by Albert Sharpe, first enters the leprechaun’s underground throne room. The camera filmed through this glass, with Sharpe entering on the left side, high on a platform at one end of the soundstage. Far below at the other end of the stage were full-sized actors as leprechauns, with an oversized set including the throne and sword, whose tops are painted into the matte. The painted elements on this glass blended seamlessly with the oversized set to create the illusion of a full-sized man close to a room full of knee-high leprechauns.

This production-used painting on glass is housed in its original frame, measuring 31” x 40” in total. The glass measures 26.25” x 35”, with the detailed image area of the cave ceiling and throne approximately 13” x 24.” The lower area of the throne has areas intentionally unpainted to allow the set behind to show through, aiding in the blending of the two. The lower right corner is painted very roughly - possibly even used as a palette - where the glass was blocked by a foreground rock element. This piece is overall in very good to fine condition, with very light wear from original production use and age. This lot requires special shipping arrangements. Please inquire before bidding.

Peter Ellenshaw won an Academy Award for his matte paintings for 1964’s "Mary Poppins,” and after retiring from film work, painted landscapes and Disney-inspired pieces. While those pieces have been available before, this is the only production matte piece from Ellenshaw’s illustrious, Oscar-winning career that we have ever seen for sale.