Clock with pedestal (1720-25) from the Wallace Collection, now part of the exhibition, Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation Of French Decorative Arts, at the Wallace Collection 6 April - 16 October 2022. On the left wall Peter J. Hall, ‘Cogsworth’ concept art for the Disney: Beauty and the Beast (1991), 1989. The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London, UK, 5 April 2022
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“Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation Of French Decorative Arts” at the Wallace Collection, London, 6 April - 16 October 2022.
Walt Disney’s first exposure to France was as a Red Cross ambulance driver supporting the U.S, army just after the end of the World War 1, December 1918. Disney returned with his family in 1935 for a European grand tour and returned many times over the years collecting reference and inspiration The exhibition includes a projection of Walt Disney’s cine film (1935).
It’s a clever exhibition about the juxtapositions of what at first glance seems dissimilar art mediums, 18th century decorative art with the Disney studios 20th century hand-drawn animation. Context is everything where the relationship between these different arts reveals they are profoundly connected. Both forms can be playful, entertaining, beautifully designed and express narrative. The exhibition show’s added meaning and relevance to both art forms.
“Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation Of French Decorative Arts” at the Wallace follows on from the exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, brain child art historian Wolf Burchard. Then after this exhibition at Wallace Collection it’s scheduled for the Huntington, San Marino, Los Angeles County. The show is site-specific including selected works from the exhibiting museum’s collections in conjunction with historic artwork from the Walt Disney studio archives.
Date: 05/04/2022
Location: Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London, UK
Photographer: photo: Richard Keith Wolff
