Jean-Baptiste Oudry

For the complete set of drawings from which this originates:
sold by the artist around 1751 to M. de Montenault, Paris, publisher of the folio edition;
J.-J. de Bure, Paris, 1828,
his sale, 1-18 December 1953, lor 344 (for 1,800 FF.);
Count Adolphe-Narcisse Thibaudeau, Paris;
by whom given to the celebrated actress, Mme. Doche; 
by whom sold to the bookseller Fontaine (for 2,500 FF.); 
from whom bought by Félix Solar (for 5,000 FF.),
his sale, Paris, 19 November - 8 December 1860, lot 627 (to M. Cléder, acting for Baron Taylor, for 6,100 FF.);
with Morgand et Fatout, Paris booksellers, circa 1876 (acquired from Baron Taylor?);
by whom sold to Emile Péreire, Paris;
by whom sold to Louis Roederer, Reims;
from whose estate acquired by Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach, 1923;
from whom purchased by Raphael Esmerian, New York circa 1946,
his sale, Paris, Palais Galliera, 6 June 1973, lot 46 (2,000,000 FF.);
after which the first volume was sold to the British Rail Pension Fund and the second was dismembered and the pages sold seperately

For the very extensive literature on the whole group of drawings, see H. Opperman, op.cit., below, and also sale catalogue, London, Sotheby's, 3 July 1996, under lot 96.
J. Locquin, 'Catalogue Raisonné de l'Oeuvre de Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755)', in Archives de l'art français, Paris 1912, vol. VI, pp. 152-163, cat. no. 1204;
H.N. Opperman, Jean-Baptiste Oudry, Chicago 1977, vol. I, pp. 99-101, 128, 143, vol. II, p. 682, cat. no. D490;
H.N. Opperman, J.-B. Oudry, exhibition catalogue, Paris 1982, pp. 157-9

Sold in a wooden carved and gilded frame. There are some very minor nicks at the edges of the sheet, and a few isolated fox marks. The latter are barely noticeable, however, and do not affect the image, which is overall in very good condition, the medium still strong.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Between 1729 and 1734 Oudry worked on 275 illustrations of the Fables of La Fontaine, while he was employed at the Beauvais factory on designs for a series of tapestries.  Gougenot gives a romantic account of the artist working on the drawings late at night after his days at the Beauvais.  In 1752 Oudry sold the complete set of drawings to Montenault (see provenance), who announced their forthcoming publication.  Charles-Nicolas Cochin the Younger was in charge of the illustrations and made copies of Oudry's freely drawn originals for the engravers.  Oudry provided the drawing for the frontispiece in 1752, the first two volumes appeared in 1755, the third in 1756 and the fourth finally in 1759, thanks to a generous donation from the King himself.  Around 1755-60, the original Oudry drawings were bound into two albums, the second of which was broken up and dispersed after the Esmerian sale in 1973.  This drawing comes from that album.  The other album, in its original dark blue calf binding labelled on the spine: DESSINS DES/FABLES DE LA/FONTAINE PAR/I.D. OUDRY/PREMIERE PARTIE, has remained intact, and was sold, London, Sotheby's, 3 July 1996, lot 96.

This drawing was engraved in reverse as the second illustration for Fable 30 in volume IV, Book XII.