Artist Dario Campanile Standing in Front of the Artwork He Created in 1986 for Paramount Studios

Italian-American fine artist Dario Campanile posing with a picture Paramount commissioned him in 1986 to paint for its 75th anniversary. The company later used the painting as a basis for its new logo. That logo was introduced as a prototype in the 1986 film The Golden Child; the 1987 film Critical Condition are both the first to feature the finalized version of the logo. 1999’s South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut was the first to use an enhanced version of the logo, which was last used on 2002’s Crossroads.

Campanile didn’t just slap some paint on a canvas and call it a day. He researched. The original Paramount mountain was rumored to be inspired by Ben Lomond, a peak in Utah. But instead of sticking to one specific mountain, Campanile took a bit of artistic liberty, combining the grandness of different ranges to create something larger-than-life.

Armed with brushes, paints, and a whole lot of talent, he created a painting that was more than just a logo—it was an invitation to escape, to dream, to lose yourself in the magic of cinema. What makes Campanile’s work stand out is the sheer realism.

The original Campanile painting was housed in Paramount’s archives, and for a while it was displayed in the studio lot. In more recent years, the painting has been occasionally showcased in logo retrospectives and studio history documentaries.

Campanile has spoken in interviews about how the painting was a turning point in his career. Although he was initially more of a surrealist, the success of the Paramount commission led to new opportunities and broader recognition in both commercial and fine art worlds.