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Author: Jean de La Fontaine (French, 1621–1695)
Illustrated by: Charles Eisen (French, 1720–1778)
Illustrated by: Pierre-Philippe Choffard (French, 1730–1809)
Engraved by: Joseph de Longueil (French, 1730–1792)
Engraved by: Noël Le Mire (French, 1724–1801)
Engraved by: Jean-Jacques André Le Veau (French, 1729–1786)
Engraved by: Jacques Aliamet (French, 1726–1788)
Engraved by: Jean Charles Baquoy (French, 1721–1777)
Engraved by: Pierre-Philippe Choffard (French, 1730–1809)
Engraved by: Jean Baptiste Delafosse (French, 1721–1806)
Engraved by: Jean Jacques Flipart (French, 1719–1782)
Engraved by: Louis Simon Lempereur (French, 1725–1796)
Engraved by: Jean Ouvrier (French, 1725–1784)
Engraved by: Etienne Ficquet (French, 1719–1794)
Portrait(s) designed by: Hyacinthe François Rigau y Ros, called Hyacinthe Rigaud (French, 1659–1743)
Portrait(s) designed by: Victor Vispré (French, active 1762–1789)
Printer: Joseph Gérard Barbou (French, 1723–1790)
Illustrated by: Charles Eisen (French, 1720–1778)
Illustrated by: Pierre-Philippe Choffard (French, 1730–1809)
Engraved by: Joseph de Longueil (French, 1730–1792)
Engraved by: Noël Le Mire (French, 1724–1801)
Engraved by: Jean-Jacques André Le Veau (French, 1729–1786)
Engraved by: Jacques Aliamet (French, 1726–1788)
Engraved by: Jean Charles Baquoy (French, 1721–1777)
Engraved by: Pierre-Philippe Choffard (French, 1730–1809)
Engraved by: Jean Baptiste Delafosse (French, 1721–1806)
Engraved by: Jean Jacques Flipart (French, 1719–1782)
Engraved by: Louis Simon Lempereur (French, 1725–1796)
Engraved by: Jean Ouvrier (French, 1725–1784)
Engraved by: Etienne Ficquet (French, 1719–1794)
Portrait(s) designed by: Hyacinthe François Rigau y Ros, called Hyacinthe Rigaud (French, 1659–1743)
Portrait(s) designed by: Victor Vispré (French, active 1762–1789)
Printer: Joseph Gérard Barbou (French, 1723–1790)
1762
Place of Publication: Paris, France
Medium/Technique
Illustrated book with 82 full-page etched and engraved plates and 57 etched vignettes
Dimensions
Overall (each vol.): 18.5 x 12.7 x 3.2 cm (7 5/16 x 5 x 1 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
William A. Sargent Collection—Bequest of William A. Sargent
Accession Number37.1455a-b
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsIllustrated books
Amsterdam [i.e., Paris: Barbou]: 1762
Catalogue Raisonné
Cohen-de Ricci 558-571; Ray, French Illustrated Book, 26
Description(Amsterdam [i.e., Paris: Barbou]: 1762) Octavo, two vols.; [v. 1] 143 leaves, plus 40 plates, [v. 2] 161 ll., 42 plates; eighteenth-century gilt-stamped red morocco.
Portraits of author, Eisen, and Choffard; illustrations to La Fontaine's tales; decorative headpieces and vignettes.
The so-called "Fermiers-généraux" edition, after the business association that commissioned it (see Ray). The illustrations consist of two full-page portrait frontispieces of La Fontaine (v. 1) and Eisen (v. 2); 80 full-page illustrations after Eisen; and 57 decorative vignettes designed and engraved by Choffard.
This copy lacks the "Avis au relieur" at the end of both vols. The plates at v. 1, p. 23, and v. 2, p. 19 are in the original versions by Longueil, not as reengraved by others. Further, in vol. 1, the illustration at p. 157 has the bracelet, p. 237 has the arrow. In vol. 2, the illustrations at pp. 143 and 149 are the "covered" versions; that at p. 157 is with the bonnet; p. 159 has ornamented curtains and delineated floorboards. The ornament with the portrait of Choffard (v. 2, p. 306) is the early state. Cohen-de Ricci enumerates the many changes in state for the illustrations in this well-known edition.
MFA owns another copy of this edition (37.1454a-b), cited by Cohen-de Ricci (568) as a "premier essai," without illustrations--though in this copy, later impressions of the plates only without borders have been inserted later.
Portraits of author, Eisen, and Choffard; illustrations to La Fontaine's tales; decorative headpieces and vignettes.
The so-called "Fermiers-généraux" edition, after the business association that commissioned it (see Ray). The illustrations consist of two full-page portrait frontispieces of La Fontaine (v. 1) and Eisen (v. 2); 80 full-page illustrations after Eisen; and 57 decorative vignettes designed and engraved by Choffard.
This copy lacks the "Avis au relieur" at the end of both vols. The plates at v. 1, p. 23, and v. 2, p. 19 are in the original versions by Longueil, not as reengraved by others. Further, in vol. 1, the illustration at p. 157 has the bracelet, p. 237 has the arrow. In vol. 2, the illustrations at pp. 143 and 149 are the "covered" versions; that at p. 157 is with the bonnet; p. 159 has ornamented curtains and delineated floorboards. The ornament with the portrait of Choffard (v. 2, p. 306) is the early state. Cohen-de Ricci enumerates the many changes in state for the illustrations in this well-known edition.
MFA owns another copy of this edition (37.1454a-b), cited by Cohen-de Ricci (568) as a "premier essai," without illustrations--though in this copy, later impressions of the plates only without borders have been inserted later.
ProvenanceAcquired in 1903 by William A. Sargent, Boston (1858-1936), by whom bequeathed to MFA, November 17, 1937.