Lot Essay
It is believed that the painting was produced by renowned 'matte' artist Albert Whitlock as a Birthday present for Hitchcock and was given to the director after the filming of North by Northwest finished, who subsequently hung it in his office at Universal Studios.
In his 2001 book 'The Men Who Made Movies', Richard Schickel describes, within the chapter on Hitchcock, the office the director had at Universal City Studios, as being a small bungalow, from where he rarely ventures. He describes the inside as being a well ordered world, dominated by an extraordinarily large desk. Importantly he observes that Across from his desk is a comic painting of Mount Rushmore - site of the famous climax in North by Northwest - with Hitchcock's face worked in among the American presidential visages there.
In the climax to Alfred Hitchcock's classic film 'North by Northwest', Cary Grant's character 'Roger O. Thornhill', famously took part in a chase scene across the historic monument of Mount Rushmore. The footage was not actually shot at Mount Rushmore but by using the skills of matte artists on set; as Alfred Hitchcock couldn't gain permission to film there. This painting pays homage to the scene.
Double Oscar winner Albert Whitlock, was one of the most skilled matte artists in the history of motion pictures, with his work seen in more than 500 films and television shows. Trained as a sign painter, Whitlock began a life-long association with Alfred Hitchcock, when assisting in the miniature effects for the Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) before being uncredited for his sign writing for The 39 Steps (1935). The two maintained a close personal and professional relationship, working together upon several films, including The Birds (1963), through to Hitchcock's final film, Family Plot (1976).
In his 2001 book 'The Men Who Made Movies', Richard Schickel describes, within the chapter on Hitchcock, the office the director had at Universal City Studios, as being a small bungalow, from where he rarely ventures. He describes the inside as being a well ordered world, dominated by an extraordinarily large desk. Importantly he observes that Across from his desk is a comic painting of Mount Rushmore - site of the famous climax in North by Northwest - with Hitchcock's face worked in among the American presidential visages there.
In the climax to Alfred Hitchcock's classic film 'North by Northwest', Cary Grant's character 'Roger O. Thornhill', famously took part in a chase scene across the historic monument of Mount Rushmore. The footage was not actually shot at Mount Rushmore but by using the skills of matte artists on set; as Alfred Hitchcock couldn't gain permission to film there. This painting pays homage to the scene.
Double Oscar winner Albert Whitlock, was one of the most skilled matte artists in the history of motion pictures, with his work seen in more than 500 films and television shows. Trained as a sign painter, Whitlock began a life-long association with Alfred Hitchcock, when assisting in the miniature effects for the Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) before being uncredited for his sign writing for The 39 Steps (1935). The two maintained a close personal and professional relationship, working together upon several films, including The Birds (1963), through to Hitchcock's final film, Family Plot (1976).