Fables de La Fontaine: Recueil de croquis composé et dessiné par Seurre Ainé

Title

Fables de La Fontaine: Recueil de croquis composé et dessiné par Seurre Ainé

Description

1849 Fables de La Fontaine: Recueil de croquis composé et dessiné par Seurre Ainé. Bernard Gabriel Seurre, lithography by Victor Adam. Hardbound. Paris: Bance Editeur. €340 from Antiquariaat De Keerkring, Malden, Netherlands, Jan., ‘25.

“Collection of Sketches.” Seurre Ainé was a pen name for Bernard Gabriel Seurre. This massive book – 22¼” x 15” and over 17 pounds in weight – is the loving creation of Harry J. Hendriks at Antiquariaat De Keerkring in Malden, Netherlands. He mentioned that it cost him €150 to have it skillfully rebound. And skillfully rebound it is! Between its covers, after a title-page, is the complete set of 96 sketches. Their style is eminently “classical,” with half-naked figures dressed in Greek clothing and surrounded by classical architecture. Each sketch has a fable title from La Fontaine at its top, a short selection of the fable’s verse under the illustration, with a small serial number just below the picture. Among the best for me are 2W (8-9); “Teacher and Drowning Child” (10); CW (15); MSA (16-20); “Ass and Lapdog” (28); “Eye of the Master” (38); “Old Woman and Two Servants” (44-46); “Young Widow” (59-61); MM (64-65); “Cobbler and Banker” (69-72); and “Gardener and Bear” (74). This is a wonderful, unique addition to the collection!

Date

1849

Source

€340 from Antiquariaat De Keerkring, Malden, Netherlands, Jan., ‘25.

Subject

Printed Materials See all items with this value

Sketches See all items with this value

The Man with Two Wives See all items with this value

The Teacher and the Drowning Child See all items with this value

The Cat Who Became a Woman See all items with this value

The Miller, His Son, and Their Ass See all items with this value

The Ass and the Lapdog See all items with this value

The Eye of the Master See all items with this value

The Old Woman and the Two Maids See all items with this value

The Young Widow See all items with this value

The Milkmaid See all items with this value

The Cobbler and the Financier See all items with this value