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Illustrated by: Jean-Honoré Fragonard (French, 1732–1806)
Illustrated by: Jean Baptiste Mallet (French, 1759–1835)
Illustrated by: Jacques Louis François Touzé (French, 1747–1807)
Illustrated by: Charles Monnet (French, 1732–after 1808)
Engraved by: Jacques Aliamet (French, 1726–1788)
Engraved by: Jean Dambrun (French, 1741–about 1808)
Engraved by: Jean Louis Delignon (French, 1755–about 1804)
Engraved by: Jean Baptiste Michel Dupréel (French, active 1787–1817)
Engraved by: Louis Michel Halbou (French, 1730–1809)
Engraved by: Charles Louis Lingée (French, 1748–1819)
Engraved by: Charles Emmanuel Jean Baptiste Patas (French, 1744–1802)
Engraved by: Jean Baptiste Simonet (French, 1742–1813)
Engraved by: Jean Baptiste Tilliard (French, 1740–1823)
Engraved by: Philippe Trière (French, 1756–about 1815)
Author: Jean de La Fontaine (French, 1621–1695)
Printer and Publisher: Pierre Didot (French, 1761–1853)
Illustrated by: Jean Baptiste Mallet (French, 1759–1835)
Illustrated by: Jacques Louis François Touzé (French, 1747–1807)
Illustrated by: Charles Monnet (French, 1732–after 1808)
Engraved by: Jacques Aliamet (French, 1726–1788)
Engraved by: Jean Dambrun (French, 1741–about 1808)
Engraved by: Jean Louis Delignon (French, 1755–about 1804)
Engraved by: Jean Baptiste Michel Dupréel (French, active 1787–1817)
Engraved by: Louis Michel Halbou (French, 1730–1809)
Engraved by: Charles Louis Lingée (French, 1748–1819)
Engraved by: Charles Emmanuel Jean Baptiste Patas (French, 1744–1802)
Engraved by: Jean Baptiste Simonet (French, 1742–1813)
Engraved by: Jean Baptiste Tilliard (French, 1740–1823)
Engraved by: Philippe Trière (French, 1756–about 1815)
Author: Jean de La Fontaine (French, 1621–1695)
Printer and Publisher: Pierre Didot (French, 1761–1853)
1795
Place of Publication: Paris, France
Medium/Technique
Illustrated book with 22 etching and engravings
Dimensions
Overall (each vol.): 30.2 x 24.2 x 3.9 cm (11 7/8 x 9 1/2 x 1 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
William A. Sargent Collection—Bequest of William A. Sargent
Accession Number37.2376a-b
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsIllustrated books
Paris: P. Didot l'aîné, 1795
Catalogue Raisonné
Cohen-de Ricci 573-79; Ray, French Illustrated Book, 77
Description(Paris: P. Didot l'aîné, 1795) Large quarto, two vols.; [v. 1] 145 leaves, plus 20 plates; [v. 2] 168 ll.; late nineteenth- or early twentieth-century gilt-stamped red morocco (De Samblanx & J. Weckesser).
Literary illustrations; title fleurons.
First edition with these illustrations. Didot projected an edition with 80 illustrations after Fragonard's drawings (which he had adapted from ones done as early as the 1770s in Italy), but in the end only 20 were published and included with his 1795 quarto edition of La Fontaine's text. Only 16 of these were after Fragonard, the others after Mallet, Monnet, and Touzé. A further 17 plates were engraved in various states of finish. In addition, Choffard drew and etched a title fleuron, used for both volumes. Cohen-de Ricci summarizes the history of this publication, as does the Wolf article cited in the bibliography. The Ray Collection in the Morgan Library contains a copy with numerous states and impressions, including ones printed in color (see Ray, Art of the French Illustrated Book, cat. 77).
The plate in this copy facing p. 99 is a proof before letters; its design is attributed to Monnet. The MFA also owns a proof before letters of the plate facing p. 25, illustrating "La Joconde" (37.1205).
This copy is elaborately bound by the Belgian binders Charles-Philippe de Samblanx (1855-1943) and Jacques Weckesser.
Eight original Fragonard drawings for these illustrations are reproduced in Heribert Tenschert, Fünfzig Unica 1472-1949 [Catalogue 40] (1998), cat. 32, pp. 290-310.
See also 37.2102a-b and 37.2134 for two reprint editions from 1883 of this title, with original etchings after the Fragonard, et al., designs.
Literary illustrations; title fleurons.
First edition with these illustrations. Didot projected an edition with 80 illustrations after Fragonard's drawings (which he had adapted from ones done as early as the 1770s in Italy), but in the end only 20 were published and included with his 1795 quarto edition of La Fontaine's text. Only 16 of these were after Fragonard, the others after Mallet, Monnet, and Touzé. A further 17 plates were engraved in various states of finish. In addition, Choffard drew and etched a title fleuron, used for both volumes. Cohen-de Ricci summarizes the history of this publication, as does the Wolf article cited in the bibliography. The Ray Collection in the Morgan Library contains a copy with numerous states and impressions, including ones printed in color (see Ray, Art of the French Illustrated Book, cat. 77).
The plate in this copy facing p. 99 is a proof before letters; its design is attributed to Monnet. The MFA also owns a proof before letters of the plate facing p. 25, illustrating "La Joconde" (37.1205).
This copy is elaborately bound by the Belgian binders Charles-Philippe de Samblanx (1855-1943) and Jacques Weckesser.
Eight original Fragonard drawings for these illustrations are reproduced in Heribert Tenschert, Fünfzig Unica 1472-1949 [Catalogue 40] (1998), cat. 32, pp. 290-310.
See also 37.2102a-b and 37.2134 for two reprint editions from 1883 of this title, with original etchings after the Fragonard, et al., designs.
ProvenanceAcquired in 1922 by William A. Sargent, Boston (1858-1936), by whom bequeathed to MFA, November 17, 1937.