Can anybody help me identify this Donald Duck art?

[Robot Man]

Hi guys. New to the boards and spend most of my time in Gold. I collect about everything but original art. I do have several cool pieces I've bumped into over the years but it isn't my focus.

 

The reason for my request is that I found this inked drawing at an estate sale several years ago. It apears to be probably from the mid 1940's. It was done by the studios as a get well card maybe for an employee or relative of an employee. I have googled the names on it and come up dry. I know Disney had a "house style" and artists were not allowed to sign their names. This one does appear to be signed. It really looks like maybe Carl Barks (check out the woman especially). Or it could be some one else. Can anyone tell me? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Bob

 

 

[alxjhnsn]

Lovely drawing.

 

Drop a line to the Yahoo! comicart-l, too.

 

You might also check FB groups for Disney comic and animation fans, e.g., Disney Comics, Disney Animation, and Donald Duck.

[tb]

As you probably already learned, it is by Al Taliaferro. Very nice. You can find other examples of his work from this period in the Hertage Auction archives. I don't recall seeing an in-house illustration like this by him before.

[Mayor006]

More likely it was an executive at Disney that asked for something from the art department to give as a special "get well soon" to someone even more prominent with Disney or in their social circle. But then again it could have simply been a friend of Taliaferro's that commissioned it to give to someone. I know, no help. But a great piece, thanks for sharing!

[Robot Man]

Hi TB. Yeah, I thought it was likely him. I was told Barks and some one suggest Walt Kelly. Since Disney had a "style" is is often hard to tell unless you are an expert collector. Thanks for the reply!

 

Bob

[Robot Man]

Hi Maypr 066. Thanks for your reply. Yeah, I figured it was an in house thing. I worked in the art dept at Disney studios for a time and we got requests like that all the time from the boys up stairs.

 

More likely it was an executive at Disney that asked for something from the art department to give as a special "get well soon" to someone even more prominent with Disney or in their social circle. But then again it could have simply been a friend of Taliaferro's that commissioned it to give to someone. I know, no help. But a great piece, thanks for sharing!