Fables, Vol. I & II

Art Historical Context

Step into the whimsical world of John Gay's *Fables, Vols. I & II*, a celebrated 18th-century collection of moral tales in verse published between 1729 and 1747. Authored by the English poet John Gay, famed for his satirical *The Beggar's Opera*, these fables draw on Aesop's tradition but infuse it with sharp social commentary on human folly, perfect for the Augustan Age's love of wit and moral instruction. This edition, produced by publishers Tonson and Watts, boasts exquisite engravings by a stellar roster of talents: painters like John Wootton and William Kent, alongside French Rococo engraver Hubert François Gravelot, and master engravers Gérard Jean-Baptiste Scotin, Paul Fourdrinier, and Bernard Baron. The book's compact format—measuring just 7½ x 4⅞ inches—belies its artistic ambition, with intricate engravings that capture the lively vignettes of anthropomorphic animals and sly human portraits. Engraving, a precise intaglio technique, allowed for detailed, reproducible illustrations that elevated printed books to fine art status, blending British neoclassicism with French elegance. Kent and Gravelot's contributions reflect the era's ornate style, full of expressive gestures and decorative flourishes. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as part of The Elisha Whittelsey Collection (acquired 1949), this volume highlights the collaborative genius of literature and graphic arts, offering visitors a window into 18th-century taste, satire, and craftsmanship.

About the Artist

John Gay|Tonson and Watts|John Wootton|Hubert François Gravelot|William Kent|Gérard Jean-Baptiste Scotin|Paul Fourdrinier|Bernard Baron (British|British) · 1685 |1757 –1732 |1827

British, Barnstaple, Devon 1685–1732|British, London 1757–1827 London