Fables Choisies, Mises en Vers par J. de la Fontaine. Tome Quatrieme

Abstract

Bodemann #135.10. She calls it a changed reproduction of an edition going back to 1759 in Paris. See my comments also on the second volume. Of course it is a shame to have only two books out of the set of four. This volume covers Books X through XII, as the closing T of C points out. For every fable, there is an interpaginated full-page illustration. The designs of these are clearly influenced by Oudry. In them classical columns, statuary, and clouds seem ubiquitous. They are titled and numbered consecutively up to CCXLVI (rather than by book and fable). The illustrations are remarkably well preserved. Among my favorites are these: Le Loup et le Renard (66), Le Vieillard et les trois jeunes Hommes (73), Le Chat et les deux Moineaux (86), Les deux Chevres (90), Le Renard et les Poulets d'Inde (126), and Le Singe (128). This book is a fine little treasure.