An illustrated album of ‘Les Fables de La Fontaine’ is being auctioned at Christie’s New York salesroom.
The mid-18th century illustrations by French artist Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686 – 1755) are estimated to promote between $1.5 – $2.5 million (approx. €1.4 – €2.3 million).
Thought-about classics of French literature, ‘Les Fables de La Fontaine’ is a group of brief tales by French writer Jean de La Fontaine (1621 – 1695), revealed between 1668 and 1694. The academic brief tales had been aimed toward adults however then entered the academic system. Initially, the fables had been devoted to “Monseigneur” Louis, le Grand Dauphin, the six-year-old son of Louis XIV of France.
Their easy but elaborate messages use animals as an instance good morals, similar to “Don’t choose these beneath you, you by no means know what life is manufactured from” or “Watch out for what appears too good to be true, one’s intentions aren’t at all times pure”.
‘Les Fables de La Fontaine’ are nonetheless required studying for varsity youngsters.
