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Le souris et le Chat-Huant

Print
1755 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This image of an owl is a book illustration for an edition of La Fontaine’s fables published in 1755. The artist, Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686–1755), was one of the outstanding 18th-century painters of animals and hunting scenes. He was also a tapestry designer and originally depicted the fables in 276 tapestry cartoons. These were redrawn by Charles-Nicolas Cochin (1715–1790) before being created for the book by several different engravers. Engraving was a popular method of reproducing paintings in books at this time.

This is one of a collection of images of owls amassed by the poet and scholar Walter Strachan (1903–1994). Strachan was fascinated by the art of the book. His interest was inspired by a visit to an exhibition of artists’ books at the National Gallery in London in May 1945. In due course he wrote many articles on the subject, as well as a major reference work, The Artist and the Book in France (published 1969); he also encouraged successive Keepers of the National Art Library at the V&A “to buy them for England.” To this end he visited France every year, to meet the artists, and acquired proof pages to illustrate his articles and to show to potential purchasers of the books, including the V&A. Over the years he amassed a collection of images of owls; some of these were illustrations from livres d’artistes, and others were designed especially for him as gifts or greetings. The collection of owls began with a visit to the artist Roger Chastel (1897-1981) in 1952, where he witnessed the printing of Le Bestiaire de Paul Eluard. In a subsequent article (“Genesis and Growth of a Collection”, for Connoisseur, 1972) he explained: “My article on Chastel’s Bestiaire had the happy result of bringing me a special print on Auvergne paper of the owl which I had admired in the book. Contacts in the art-world of Paris are close and friendly, and I was marked down as an owl-man, in consequence of which I have gradually been given dedicated owl prints and originals in every medium from pen and ink to enamel…” Most of the prints in Strachan's collection were contemporary autograph prints or proofs; this is a rare instance where he acquired an older print taken from a published book.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleLe souris et le Chat-Huant (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Etching on paper
Brief description
Etching, 'Les souris et le chat-huant', after Jean-Baptiste Oudry, engraved by Pierre Quentin Chedel, Illustration to Fables of La Fontaine.
Physical description
This etching shows an owl sitting on a tree. In the background is a castle.
Dimensions
  • Height: 30.3cm
  • Width: 22.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
LES SOURIS ET LE CHAT-HUANT. Fable CCXIII. (Printed below image within frame.)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Walter Strachan
Object history
This forms part of a collection of prints, drawings and paintings of owls bequeathed to the V&A by Walter Strachan (1903-1994). Strachan, a scholar and collector of Livres d'Artistes, became friendly with a large number of artists, who, on hearing that he had a fondness for owls, began sending him images to add to his collection.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This image of an owl is a book illustration for an edition of La Fontaine’s fables published in 1755. The artist, Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686–1755), was one of the outstanding 18th-century painters of animals and hunting scenes. He was also a tapestry designer and originally depicted the fables in 276 tapestry cartoons. These were redrawn by Charles-Nicolas Cochin (1715–1790) before being created for the book by several different engravers. Engraving was a popular method of reproducing paintings in books at this time.

This is one of a collection of images of owls amassed by the poet and scholar Walter Strachan (1903–1994). Strachan was fascinated by the art of the book. His interest was inspired by a visit to an exhibition of artists’ books at the National Gallery in London in May 1945. In due course he wrote many articles on the subject, as well as a major reference work, The Artist and the Book in France (published 1969); he also encouraged successive Keepers of the National Art Library at the V&A “to buy them for England.” To this end he visited France every year, to meet the artists, and acquired proof pages to illustrate his articles and to show to potential purchasers of the books, including the V&A. Over the years he amassed a collection of images of owls; some of these were illustrations from livres d’artistes, and others were designed especially for him as gifts or greetings. The collection of owls began with a visit to the artist Roger Chastel (1897-1981) in 1952, where he witnessed the printing of Le Bestiaire de Paul Eluard. In a subsequent article (“Genesis and Growth of a Collection”, for Connoisseur, 1972) he explained: “My article on Chastel’s Bestiaire had the happy result of bringing me a special print on Auvergne paper of the owl which I had admired in the book. Contacts in the art-world of Paris are close and friendly, and I was marked down as an owl-man, in consequence of which I have gradually been given dedicated owl prints and originals in every medium from pen and ink to enamel…” Most of the prints in Strachan's collection were contemporary autograph prints or proofs; this is a rare instance where he acquired an older print taken from a published book.
Bibliographic reference
Strachan, Walter J. Modern French bestiaries. Private Library. vol.3, 2nd series, 1970. pp.171-192.
Collection
Accession number
E.249-1994

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Record createdOctober 28, 2004
Record URL
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