Advanced Search
Requires Photography
Contes et nouvelles en vers
Author: Jean de La Fontaine (French, 1621–1695)
Illustrated by: Charles Eisen (French, 1720–1778)
Engraved by: Géraud Vidal (French, 1742–1804)
Portrait(s) designed by: Hyacinthe François Rigau y Ros, called Hyacinthe Rigaud (French, 1659–1743)
Engraved by: Charles François Adrien Macret (French, 1751–1789)
Illustrated by: Charles Eisen (French, 1720–1778)
Engraved by: Géraud Vidal (French, 1742–1804)
Portrait(s) designed by: Hyacinthe François Rigau y Ros, called Hyacinthe Rigaud (French, 1659–1743)
Engraved by: Charles François Adrien Macret (French, 1751–1789)
1777
Place of Publication: Paris?, France
Medium/Technique
Illustrated book with 128 etching and engravings
Dimensions
Overall (each vol.): 20.5 x 13.2 x 2.8 cm (8 1/16 x 5 3/16 x 1 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
William A. Sargent Collection—Bequest of William A. Sargent
Accession Number37.1457a-b
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsIllustrated books
[Paris?] 1777
Catalogue Raisonné
Cohen-de Ricci 571-572
Description([Paris?] 1777) Octavo, two vols.; [v. 1] 115 leaves, plus 41 plates; [v. 2] 147 ll., plus 42 plates; contemporary gilt-stamped marbled brown calf (Bozerian?).
Author portrait; literary illustrations; decorative frontispieces, fleurons, and tailpieces.
Later edition (without city or publisher indicated) of La Fontaine's Contes et nouvelles, with plates copied in reverse from those designed by Eisen for the 1762 Fermiers-Généraux edition (MFA: 37.1455a-b). Some online catalogues attribute this edition to Amsterdam. In this edition, there are new engraved frontispieces "directed" by Vidal, and author portrait by Macret after the 1762 version. The illustrations, title fleurons, and tailpieces are all unsigned, with the exception of one (cited by Cohen-de Ricci) by Borgnet. This copy also contains a late impression of the portrait of Eisen from vol. 2 of the original edition. The donor attributed (front flyleaf) the binding to Bozerian.
Author portrait; literary illustrations; decorative frontispieces, fleurons, and tailpieces.
Later edition (without city or publisher indicated) of La Fontaine's Contes et nouvelles, with plates copied in reverse from those designed by Eisen for the 1762 Fermiers-Généraux edition (MFA: 37.1455a-b). Some online catalogues attribute this edition to Amsterdam. In this edition, there are new engraved frontispieces "directed" by Vidal, and author portrait by Macret after the 1762 version. The illustrations, title fleurons, and tailpieces are all unsigned, with the exception of one (cited by Cohen-de Ricci) by Borgnet. This copy also contains a late impression of the portrait of Eisen from vol. 2 of the original edition. The donor attributed (front flyleaf) the binding to Bozerian.
ProvenanceCollector's stamp on title "S. Bass."; acquired in 1910 by William A. Sargent, Boston (1858-1936), by whom bequeathed to MFA, November 17, 1937.