On Wednesday (October 12th), John Alvin’s artwork from 1982’s E.T: The Extra Terrestrial sold for $394,000 during an auction held by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions.
Measured at 41×27-1/2-inches, the photo is signed by Alvin, who also designed art for Blade Runner, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. The late artist was inspired by Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam,” and so used his daughter as the human hand model for the poster. Alvin passed away in 2008.
For the last 13 years, the painting resided on the wall of Hollywood writer and producer Bob Bendetson, before being offered up for auction.
“Every time my son’s or daughter’s friends would see the painting they’d stand in front of it with their fingers touching in the same way,” Bendetson said in a statement.
Heritage revealed that the buyer of the painting wishes to remain anonymous.
Steven Spielberg’s E.T. – the story of friendship between a lost alien and a young boy (played by Henry Thomas) – was a huge blockbuster hit, grossing $792.9 million worldwide.
