LA FONTAINE, Jean de (1621-1695). Fables Choisies, mises en vers. Edited by C. P. de Monthenault d'Egly. Paris: Charles-Antoine-Jombert for Desaint & Saillant and Durand, 1755-1759. 4 volumes, large 2° (493 x 335mm). Engraved portrait of Oudry by J. Tardieu after V. de Largillière, engraved and etched frontispiece and 275 plates after JEAN-BAPTISTE OUDRY by Cochin, Tardieu, Prévost, Chedel, Lempereur and others, 209 wood-cut title vignettes, head- and tailpieces after Bachellier. (Occasional spotting and browning, vol.I with paper-fault in margin of 3rd plate, vol.II Q1 with small section torn away from upper outer blank margin, V2 with 25mm. tear in outer blank margin.) Contemporary light brown calf, spines gilt, brown and black morocco lettering-pieces on spines (spines chipped at head and foot, joints slightly split). A FINE LARGE COPY, with fine impressions of the plates. The plate Le Singe et le Léopard in the first state without lettering on the banner (vol. III, facing p. 112). Ray states that "the varied and ingenious vignettes constitute almost the only significant series of wood cuts for the adornment of French books during the 18th century". Cochin's important role in the production of this, one of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books, is neatly summarised in the inscription under the frontispiece in vol. I: "Inventé par J. B. Oudry, terminé au burin par N. Dupuis, gravé à l'eau forte par C. N. Cochin le fils qui, d'après les originaux, à fait tous les traits, conduit et dirigé tout l'ouvrage". After he became director of the Beauvais tapestry factory, Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1685-1755) began to amuse himself sketching subjects from La Fontaine's Fables. Between 1729 and 1735 he made a total of 276 sketches, and the story of how they became the illustrations of the Fables is recounted in the Avertissement de l'éditeur in vol. I by the publisher Montenault who had bought the sketches. Oudry's subjects being landscapes and animals, which he had drawn freely for his own enjoyment, Cochin was given the responsibility of turning these loose freehand drawings into finished prints. Although Oudry's skill at portraying animals and his interpretation of La Fontaine's humour can hardly be surpassed, Cochin's sure and experienced hand did much to improve the original designs, particularly the figures. He redrew them, correcting the figures and backgrounds and supplying precise lines for the engravers. As Montenault states: "Il ne falloit pas moins que son secours pour donner à celles-ci le degré de perfection qu'elles ont atteint, non seulement par la maniére dont les originaux sont rendus, mais encore par la correction ajoutée aux figures qu'ils contiennent. Cette partie étoit négligée, & M. Oudry reconnoît lui-meme le nouveau mérite qu'elle a acquis en passant par les habiles mains son illustre Confrère". Rochambeau Bibliographie des Oeuvres de La Fontaine 86; Cohen-de Ricci 548; Ray The Art of the French Illustrated Book 5. (4)
LA FONTAINE, Jean de (1621-1695). Fables Choisies, mises en vers. Edited by C. P. de Monthenault d'Egly. Paris: Charles-Antoine-Jombert for Desaint & Saillant and Durand, 1755-1759. 4 volumes, large 2° (493 x 335mm). Engraved portrait of Oudry by J. Tardieu after V. de Largillière, engraved and etched frontispiece and 275 plates after JEAN-BAPTISTE OUDRY by Cochin, Tardieu, Prévost, Chedel, Lempereur and others, 209 wood-cut title vignettes, head- and tailpieces after Bachellier. (Occasional spotting and browning, vol.I with paper-fault in margin of 3rd plate, vol.II Q1 with small section torn away from upper outer blank margin, V2 with 25mm. tear in outer blank margin.) Contemporary light brown calf, spines gilt, brown and black morocco lettering-pieces on spines (spines chipped at head and foot, joints slightly split). A FINE LARGE COPY, with fine impressions of the plates. The plate Le Singe et le Léopard in the first state without lettering on the banner (vol. III, facing p. 112). Ray states that "the varied and ingenious vignettes constitute almost the only significant series of wood cuts for the adornment of French books during the 18th century". Cochin's important role in the production of this, one of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books, is neatly summarised in the inscription under the frontispiece in vol. I: "Inventé par J. B. Oudry, terminé au burin par N. Dupuis, gravé à l'eau forte par C. N. Cochin le fils qui, d'après les originaux, à fait tous les traits, conduit et dirigé tout l'ouvrage". After he became director of the Beauvais tapestry factory, Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1685-1755) began to amuse himself sketching subjects from La Fontaine's Fables. Between 1729 and 1735 he made a total of 276 sketches, and the story of how they became the illustrations of the Fables is recounted in the Avertissement de l'éditeur in vol. I by the publisher Montenault who had bought the sketches. Oudry's subjects being landscapes and animals, which he had drawn freely for his own enjoyment, Cochin was given the responsibility of turning these loose freehand drawings into finished prints. Although Oudry's skill at portraying animals and his interpretation of La Fontaine's humour can hardly be surpassed, Cochin's sure and experienced hand did much to improve the original designs, particularly the figures. He redrew them, correcting the figures and backgrounds and supplying precise lines for the engravers. As Montenault states: "Il ne falloit pas moins que son secours pour donner à celles-ci le degré de perfection qu'elles ont atteint, non seulement par la maniére dont les originaux sont rendus, mais encore par la correction ajoutée aux figures qu'ils contiennent. Cette partie étoit négligée, & M. Oudry reconnoît lui-meme le nouveau mérite qu'elle a acquis en passant par les habiles mains son illustre Confrère". Rochambeau Bibliographie des Oeuvres de La Fontaine 86; Cohen-de Ricci 548; Ray The Art of the French Illustrated Book 5. (4)
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