90th Anniversary of The Story of Ferdinand Celebrated with Special Exhibition
Robert Lawson, illustration for The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, 1936
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art will mark the longevity of a classic picture book hero with its Under the Cork Tree: The Story of Ferdinand exhibition opening tomorrow.
On view through November 8, it explores the origins of the legendary bull who did not want to fight. Organized by guest curator Jane Bayard Curley, the exhibition features original drawings by artist Robert Lawson, the manuscript by writer Munro Leaf, and materials related to Walt Disney Studio’s 1938 Academy Award-winning animated film.
Originally titled Ferdinand the Fierce, “fierce” was quickly erased, but traces of that original idea can be seen in the manuscript on view in the exhibition. Artist Robert Lawson then spent three months producing the book’s illustrations and a book dummy to show publishers which caught the eye of editor May Massee at Viking Press who published The Story of Ferdinand in 1936.
The exhibition showcases pencil sketches from the book dummy of the Spanish countryside but the main focus is on Lawson’s original 37 pen and ink, black-and-white drawings. It also features a selection of Ferdinand wind-up toys, a board game, and
animation cels from the Disney film.
