The Monkey and the Cat, from "Fables of La Fontaine", 1886
Etchingexpand_more
The William M. Ladd Collection Gift of Herschel V. Jones, 1916expand_more P.1,843
Not on Viewexpand_more
Against a backdrop of crumbling opulence, a monkey convinces a cat to grab roasting chestnuts from the fire for him. The monkey keeps eating, and the cat continues to retrieve chestnuts and burn its paws. It’s the tale of a clever creature using a vulnerable one to achieve his own selfish ends.
The Monkey and the Cat is one of six prints Bracquemond copied after watercolors by his contemporary Gustave Moreau. Each illustrates a fable by the 17th-century writer Jean de La Fontaine. Translating other artists’ work into etching paid more than original etchings and helped Bracquemond make a living. This etching was published in a Parisian book of fables.
Details
- Title
- The Monkey and the Cat, from "Fables of La Fontaine"
- Artist Life
- 1833–1914
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.1,843
- Catalogue Raisonne
- all six illustrations: Beraldi 795-801
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.
No Image Available