Original production animation drawing of Briar Rose in graphite pencil from "Sleeping Beauty," 1959, Walt Disney Studios; Numbered 18 in pencil and animation ladder lower right; Size - Briar Rose: 7 x 4 1/4", Sheet 12 1/2 x 15 1/2"; Unframed.
"Sleeping Beauty," the 1959 Walt Disney full length motion picture,
introduced two characters that would become universal favorites;
Maleficent and Princess Aurora. Aurora, along with Snow White and
Cinderella would be forever immortalized in the public's view as the
three greatest Disney Princesses. The original design for Aurora and her
peasant disguise Briar Rose was developed by Tom Oreb, who based the
character on the famed Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn; known for her
thin frame and a very graceful demeanor. Marc Davis, the head animator,
would continue the development process by morphing her general
appearance and the clothing of the heroine. The fine tuning of the
character continued so that she could be combined with the very angular
forms present in the Eyvind Earle hand painted backgrounds.
As with other Disney films, an actress was hired as a live-action model
(as a guide for the animators) for Princess Aurora/Briar Rose. Helene
Stanley, who was also the model for Cinderella in 1950, became the model
for the heroine. It is interesting to note that prior to marrying Marc
Davis in 1956, Alice (Davis) designed some of costumes worn by Stanley
in her acting role in "Sleeping Beauty."
Close up of the original production animation drawing of Briar Rose.
In
1952, the professional opera singer Mary Costa, after meeting people at
a party with her future husband director Frank Tashlin, auditioned for
the part of Disney's Princess Aurora/Briar Rose. Walt Disney called her
personally within hours of the audition to inform her that the part was
hers. The success of the film "Sleeping Beauty," owes a chuck of those
accolades to the voice of Mary Costa. Her songs were some of the most
beautiful ever sung by a Disney Princess. In November 1999 Mary Costa
received the Disney Legends Award, and her hand prints are now a
permanent part of the Disney Legends Plaza at the entrance to Walt
Disney Studios.
After Maleficent's evil curse that Princess Aurora would (before the sun
sets on her sixteenth birthday) prick her finger on the spindle of a
spinning wheel and die; the three Good Fairies disguise Aurora as a
peasant named Briar Rose and hide her deep in a remote forest cottage.
The majority of the movie focuses on Briar Rose, and this is a beautiful
original production drawing of her. The drawing is used in the scene
when Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather send Rose out on a task to pick a
basket full of berries; so that they will be alone to make her a
beautiful dress and an extra special birthday cake! This is an
absolutely beautiful original production drawing of Briar Rose. This is an absolutely beautiful original production drawing of Briar Rose. She is eyes open, her shawl is draped over her shoulders, and she holding her basket in her lap while smiling. A
wonderful addition to any animation art collection!
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