Bidding for this lot will end on Friday, March 27th. The auction will begin at 2:00 PM (PDT) / 5:00 PM (EDT) / 9:00 PM (GMT) and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Wednesday, March 25th or Thursday, March 26th.
An original multi-character production cel setup capturing Krusty mid-performance in the Simpson living room, riding a unicycle with a feather duster balanced on his nose, full clown costume and red shoes, while Marge, Lisa, Maggie and Homer watch from the sofa. It is a warm and endearing scene where Krusty has come to dinner to repay Bart for clearing his name after Sideshow Bob framed him for armed robbery. After feeling increasingly uncomfortable in the domestic setting, and compensates by doing what he does best, Comedy.
"Like Father, Like Clown" aired on 24 October 1991, written by Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky and co-directed by Jeffrey Lynch and Brad Bird (Incredibles, Iron Giant). The episode established that Krusty, real name Herschel Krustofsky, is Jewish, his father Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky having disowned him twenty-five years earlier for choosing comedy over faith. It is a direct homage to The Jazz Singer, and the writing was carefully researched with two rabbis credited as technical consultants.
Jackie Mason, himself a former ordained rabbi who had left to pursue comedy, voiced Rabbi Krustofsky and won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for the role. Season 3 showrunner Mike Reiss later named it in his memoir Springfield Confidential as one of four episodes that broke new ground for the series, alongside Homer at the Bat, Moaning Lisa and the original Treehouse of Horror. TV Guide placed it among their top twelve Simpsons episodes of all time.
The artwork is signed by veteran animator and storyboard artist Brad Ableson. Brad joined The Simpsons Animation Crew at nineteen, having won an Emmy for his USC student film, and spent twenty seasons on the show as character layout artist and storyboard artist across more than 150 episodes, including The Simpsons Movie (2007). He went on to co-create MTV's Good Vibes and Comedy Central's Legends of Chamberlain Heights, co-directed Minions: The Rise of Gru for Illumination, and is currently co-directing Shrek 5 for DreamWorks.
We are delighted to offer this wonderful piece of Simpsons artwork from Brad Ableson's personal collection. His signature offers a very special addition from one of the people who helped define the show's golden era.
Presented matted the cels are placed on a studio reproduction of the original background line art. It bears the official 20th Century Fox Animation Art seal and is accompanied by a corresponding Certificate of Authenticity. Dimensions (mounted): 21.5" x 15.5" (54.5 x 39.5 cm)
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.
This piece is offered ahead of a special Q&A event with Brad Ableson himself, hosted in Propstore's Virtual Animation Art Gallery on Sunday 22nd March 2026 at 12:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM GMT. A rare opportunity to put your questions directly to one of the architects of The Simpsons' golden era, and now co-director of Shrek 5.
Estimate: $800 - 1,600