Laura by Ercole Brini (20th Century Fox, 1946). Very Fine. Signed Original Poster Artwork for the Italian Release (27.25" X ...

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Laura by Ercole Brini (20th Century Fox, 1946). Very Fine. Signed Original Poster Artwork for the Italian Release (27.25" X 39.25").
It's no secret that the artwork on Italian movie posters of the 40s and 50s was often superior to the designs chosen by the studios for American one sheets. The work of prolific painter and illustrator Ercole Brini (1913-1980) is a big reason why Italian posters of the era enjoy that reputation. The original, hand-painted maquette is offered here for the Laura Italian 2 fogli. The painting is accomplished in mixed media on a lightweight artboard, tipped at the top of the verso to a backing board. The artist has signed at the upper right, "E Brini." One glance at Brini's masterful rendering of "Laura" (Gene Tierney), with her dark auburn hair and sparkling blue eyes, and its immediately evident how the young woman managed to obsess both the arrogant old newspaper columnist, "Waldo Lydecker" (Clifton Webb) and the hardnosed detective, "Mark McPherson" (Dana Andrews). The sketchy trench-coated figure looming with a shotgun in the shadows adds the perfect degree of tension to the composition. Entirely unrestored, the board exhibits some light cracking around the perimeter, none of which impinges on the overall appearance of the artwork or threatens the figures. While the resulting poster is very rare, this original artwork is, of course, one of a kind.


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