Sunday, January 28, 2018

A Harper Goff Mystery



Sadly I never met Harper Goff, an artist who contributed in so many ways to Walt Disney's "mid century success".
He met Walt in 1951 in London in a model-making shop. They both wanted to purchase the same model train. To make a long story short, Goff joined the Disney staff soon after and became involved in the Disney's live action film 20.000 Leagues under the Sea. He designed sets for the film as well as THE Nautilus submarine. Goff also played the banjo as a member for The Firehouse five plus Two, a Dixieland band that included Disney artists Ward Kimball and Frank Thomas. He became an important designer for various Disneyland and Disney World attractions.

So here is where it becomes interesting. This painting, featuring Harper Goff and his wife Flossie was auctioned off a few years ago. The artist is no other than French painter Albert Brenet, who I posted about a few years ago, with no knowledge of any Disney connection.

https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/search?q=brenet

I really don't know how these artists met, but it had to be in 1958 or before.
When it comes to Disney it's a small world between Animation and Fine artists.