Robert Bailey
The Empire Strikes Back| 2024
27 pieces
Castle Fine Art is proud to present The Empire Strikes Back - Part 2; a unique collection of Robert Bailey original pencil drawings alongside original script pages from the film, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back. This follows Part 1 released in January and the previous sell-out collection of similarly paired artwork with script pages in the collection Revenge of the Jedi – The Lost Script released in May 2023.
We are delighted to invite you to our South Molton Street gallery in London to experience the power of the force with the incredibly detailed pencil drawings. The Empire Strike Back - Part 2 exhibition will be open to from 14th April until 27th of April.
In this collection, Bailey has illustrated scenes from the script Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), creating incredibly detailed pencil drawings. As well as being hand-signed by the artist, each original drawing bears two Lucasfilm stamps. The red stamp signifies the copyright of Lucasfilm Ltd, and the blue stamp provides the authenticity of Robert being a Lucasfilm-endorsed artist.
Each drawing is combined with a page of an original script used by Michael Ford (1928 – 2018), a set decorator and art director on the original production of the film. Michael Ford is known for his work on Titanic (1997), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) as well as Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Ford’s outstanding work on these films has been recognised several times by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, earning him nominations for ‘Best Art Direction – Set Direction’ for both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
These authenticated script pages show an insight into the production process; as any script revisions happened, the entire page was re-printed on a differently coloured paper. Within this collection, there are five differently coloured pages, meaning five revisions of the script. Yellow pages are from 20th February 1979; white pages are from a revision on 28th February 1979; pink pages are from a revision on 19th March 1979; blue pages are from a revision on 23rd July 1979 and 22nd August 1979 and cream pages are from a revision on 24th August 1979.
Robert Bailey’s drawings and pages from Michael Ford’s script have been paired together, then mounted and framed in black mount and placed under museum-quality glass. The result is a collection of totally unique pieces which are prized by any Star Wars collector.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back was released on 21st May 1980, directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story by George Lucas. It is a hugely important movie, which had a significant impact on filmmaking and popular culture. The climax in which Vader reveals he is Luke’s father is often ranked as one of the greatest plot twists in cinema. The Empire Strikes Back was the most-anticipated film of 1980, earning approximately $401.5 million worldwide.
Robert Bailey is one of the few people to have been made a Lucasfilm-endorsed artist. George Lucas noticed Bailey’s work and invited him to work on Star Wars Visions, which saw 30 artists create their own interpretations of the beloved characters from the Star Wars series. So, thrilled with Bailey’s work, Lucas subsequently bought many of Robert’s prints for himself and cast and crew members.
Featured Art: 'Yoda, You Seek' by Robert Bailey, original pencil drawing hand-signed by the artist and bearing two Lucasfilm stamps, paired with an original page of a script from The Empire Strikes Back.
“The training of Luke by Yoda, the battle on Hoth and other iconic scenes make this a spectacular story, and I trust this shows through in my pencil work,” Robert explains. “For me, this was more electrifying than I can describe, creating another series of work to be matched with script pages. To combine such pages with pencil drawings is surely a third dimension to bringing the dialogue and images to life! I'm sure that this collection, like the movie, will stand the test of time.”
Using a method called hatching, whereby the closely drawn parallel lines imply shade, tone and texture, Bailey’s drawings take many hours to complete. The distance between the hatching marks determines how light or dark that area appears. Notable adopters of hatching include Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, and Edgar Degas.
Featured Art: 'I Love You... I Know' by Robert Bailey, an original pencil drawing hand-signed by the artist and bearing two Lucasfilm stamps, paired with an original page of a script from The Empire Strikes Back.
Related media
The relationship between art and film has a complex connection that stretches back to the dawn of cinema in the late 19th century. Captivating audiences and challenging norms, the two are tightly bound by their shared visual power, storytelling and use of both legacy techniques and new technology, meaning the notional bridge between the two mediums is regularly crossed. We explore the film-art crossover that has resulted in both still and moving masterpieces for over a century.
Ever-evolving, fantasy art is a fascinating genre that captures the artist’s imagination with the portrayal of magical worlds and mythical subjects. Avoiding abstract forms, it tends to lean towards naturalism like Nigel Humphries or Robert Bailey’s art or embrace graphic novel aesthetics like our Marvel artworks.
After last year’s sold-out collection Revenge of the Jedi – The Lost Script, Castle Fine Art is delighted to present the latest instalment The Empire Strikes Back – Part 1 in which Robert Bailey breathes vibrant life into the film’s script through his breathtaking pencil drawings.
Collected by celebrities including Harrison Ford, John Travolta and Tom Cruise, Robert's incredibly detailed original pencil drawings are the perfect addition to any Star Wars fan's collection.
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