Virgil Ross - Bugs Bunny and the Sheriff of Nottingham

To commemorate our trip to Nottingham this year, we got this Virgil Ross drawing.

This is from the classic Rabbit Hood cartoon RABBIT HOOD released on Dec. 24, 1949 and directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese. (Virgil Ross apparently did not work on this particular one, but recreated a scene from it.)

Rabbit Hood is the origin of the infamous "knighting" exchange, where Bugs Bunny is dressed up like a king, and proceeds to pound the Sheriff's head with his scepter while dispensing an oddball title with each strike:

Sheriff: bows
Bugs: "In the name of my most Royal Majesty, I knight thee: (strikes Sheriff over the head with his scepter) "Arise! Sir Loin of Beef."
(strike) "Arise! Earl of Cloves."
(strike) "Arise! Duke of Brittingham."
(strike) "Arise! Baron of Munchausen."
(strike) "Arise! Essence of Myrrh,"
(strike) "Milk of Magnesia,"
(strike) "Quarter of Ten...."
Sheriff: (dazed, slurred, but still on his feet) "You are too kind, your majesty."
Bugs: (to audience) "Got lots of stamina!"

Virgil Walter Ross (August 8, 1907 – May 15, 1996) was an American artist, cartoonist, and animator best known for his work on the Warner Bros. animated shorts including the shorts of legendary animator Friz Freleng. Ross would spend his career with Friz for the rest of his time at Warner Bros., with him animating on some of Freleng's most renowned shorts. Four of the cartoons he had animated won Oscars: Tweetie Pie (1947), Speedy Gonzales (1955), Birds Anonymous (1957), and Knighty Knight Bugs (1958)