Max Cady's (Robert De Niro) tattoo transfer sheet with nine sheets of tattoo design artwork from the production of Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear. After securing his release from prison through legal loopholes, Cady used the tattoos decorating his body to guide his quest for violent vengeance against the public defender, Sam Bowman (Nick Nolte), who he blamed for his incarceration.

Cady's fearsome tattoos were designed by makeup artist Ilona Herman in close collaboration with Scorsese and De Niro, who personally selected several of the biblical verses incorporated into the madman's ink. The tattoos were applied via state-of-the-art Temptu airbrushing technology using specialized inks and vegetable dyes, only fading from De Niro's body months after filming completed.

This lot originates from Planet Hollywood. It consists of a transfer sheet featuring the final printed designs for Cady's tattoos, including the bible verse "Vengeance is Mine" from his arm and the "Truth/Justice" cross from his back; eight printed sheets of early design artwork for various religious and prison-themed tattoos, several of which were ultimately unseen in the final cut, including an electric chair, hornets, and Jesus Christ; and a ninth printed sheet of designs handwritten with quoted text, such as "Crybaby," "In The Name of the Father," and "After Hrs."

Three of the design sheets feature hand-colored touch-ups, while the transfer sheet and a fourth design sheet are backed with foam boards, one of which features a hand-drawn doodle of the tattoos along with a note from production about the use of gaffer's tape "for extra strength." The set shows evidence of tearing and discoloration consistent with on-set use, handling, and age. Dimensions: (each) 29.5" x 20" (75 cm x 51 cm)

Please note this lot is sold without copyright, reproduction rights, licensing agreements or any other type of legal release.