Fables 1802

This is a page from Jean de La Fontaine’s "Fables" from 1802, currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work features an engraving of two figures, most likely Cupid and Psyche, running through a Classical garden. This page is a dedication to the Duke of Burgundy, and is an example of the French literary and artistic movements of the 17th century. La Fontaine’s fables were incredibly popular during his lifetime and have been adapted and reimagined over the centuries. This work exemplifies the artistic and literary traditions of the 17th century, a time of great intellectual and artistic ferment in France.