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A beautifully hand-painted limited edition cel titled "Bella Notte", faithfully recreated from Walt Disney's Lady and the Tramp (1955).
Lady and the Tramp was also the first animated feature produced in CinemaScope, a revolutionary widescreen process that allowed for sweeping visual depth and dynamic staging. The Bella Notte sequence made full use of this innovation, framing Lady and Tramp's quiet dinner with a painterly realism that audiences had never seen before.
The animation for this sequence was supervised by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, two of Walt Disney's legendary "Nine Old Men". Both animators were known for their unmatched ability to convey emotion through movement, and Lady and the Tramp remains one of their most celebrated achievements.
This stunning artwork captures one of the most iconic and romantic moments in animation history. Lady and Tramp share a plate of spaghetti beneath the glow of a flickering candle, while Tony serenades them with "Bella Notte". The scene is a moment of pure cinematic magic, symbolising love, trust and the universal charm that defines the very essence of Disney storytelling.
Every cel in this edition was produced using the traditional process that defined Disney's Golden Age of animation. Each line was inked by hand on acetate, then painted on the reverse using Disney-approved acrylic colours. The background was faithfully recreated by a Disney background artist, referencing original production layouts, colour keys and background paintings archived in the Disney Animation Research Library. The result is a richly atmospheric setting that perfectly recreates the warm, twilight tones and romantic mood of the original film.
This limited edition was released during the early years of the Disney Fine Art Program in 1990, a period when the studio reintroduced hand-crafted cels to collectors around the world. The edition was limited to only 500 pieces worldwide (this example hand-numbered 12/500), with each cel individually hand-painted by studio artists at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. The edition carries the official Walt Disney Studio seal and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. There are two small tape pieces on the lower corners.
"Bella Notte" sold out quickly through Disney Stores, theme park galleries and authorised dealers, and is now considered one of the most desirable hand-painted recreations ever produced by the studio. Dimensions: 32.75 cm x 42.75 cm (13" x 16.75")
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.
Estimate: £1,400 - 2,800 Ω
View all lots from LADY AND THE TRAMP (1955)