THEEUREKAPAINTING

When Carl Barks began painting his numerous artworks featuring the characters from the Walt Disney universe, they became instant successes. This also meant that the paintings - that would only emerge in single numbers - spawned a great deal of related artworks enabling even more interested parties to obtain some 'stardust'. Examples are lithographs, serigraphs, pastels, sketches, and figurines. The painting that resulted in the most different follow-ups was 5-96 Eureka! A Goose Egg Nugget! from 1996. This is the story.

PAINTING

Code and title: 5-96 Eureka! A Goose Egg Nugget! The code refers to Barks' booking system, meaning that this was his 5th official Disney painting from 1996. It is also known as 147-96 meaning that this was his 147th official Disney painting since the start in 1972.

Motif: Graphic rendering of a described scene from the adventure story in FC0456 Back to the Klondike, in which a young Scrooge McDuck is panning for gold in the great Yukon Gold Rush in 1898. In the painting we witness how Scrooge lays the foundation for his enormous fortune by discovering a giant, glittering gold nugget later to be known as The Goose Egg Nugget.

Technical: Made in oil on Masonite board. Size 11x14" (280x360mms). In the above image the painting is matted and framed to an overall size of 19x22" (480x560mms).

Comments: The artwork was requested by two of Barks' good friends (see more HERE, middle section), who shared the total cost of 28,000 dollars (10,000 plus 18,000). Booked by Barks on June 24th, 1996, along with Heat Wave (see more HERE). Eureka was resold at an Internet auction in May 2011 for 54,970 dollars following furious bidding from 32 interested collectors. As you can see from the backside Barks initially made the painting in commemoration of the centennial Yukon Gold Strike (Barks misspelled Centennial, though).

LITHOGRAPH

Specially made offset lithograph signed by Barks. Presented as matted under glass and placed in a gold-tone frame.

Technical: Lithograph size 5x6.25" (130x160mms). Total size 11.25x14" (290x360mms).

FIGURINE

Porcelain figurine just titled Eureka (1998) and made in collaboration between Barks and the Italian sculptor Giuseppe Armani from Florence Scultere d'Árte, Italy. Produced in 3,000 copies that were sold out. The artwork was numbered and then signed by the artists and accompanied by a numbered and signed certificate in a wooden frame (see more HERE, middle section).

Technical: Made from bone china (height 14" (350mms)) and mounted on a wooden and lacquered base (width 9" (240mms)).

GLASS SCULPTURE

This extraordinary artwork was sculpted by Daniel Bascobert for the official 1997 Disneyana convention. Produced in only 3 copies. One was sold at the convention, and the remaining two given to Barks as presents for his 96th birthday. The sold sculpture entered an auction in May 2007, but did not obtain the required reserve bid. The presented sculpture is labelled Final Proof and was owned by Barks.

Technical: Etched glass piece, size 12x12x0.4" (300x300x10mms), placed on a black pedestal with built-in red light and the text HAPPY 96TH BIRTHDAY CARL BARKS!

CARD

Prior to the Yukon Gold Strike centennial festivities in 1998 Barks fans canvassed to persuade the American and the Canadian postal authorities to issue a commemoration stamp featuring the Eureka motif. This was followed up by a special promotional card designed by artist David Peterman. The plan did not succeed.