La Matrone d'Ephese, from "Contes et nouvelles en vers par Jean de La Fontaine. A Paris, de l'imprimerie de P. Didot, l'an III de la République, 1795"

Art Historical Context

**La Matrone d'Éphèse** is a captivating etching from Jean de La Fontaine's *Contes et nouvelles en vers*, a collection of witty, often risqué tales published in Paris by Pierre Didot l'aîné in 1795 (Year III of the French Republic). Dated 1793, this-state impression illustrates La Fontaine's retelling of a classical anecdote: a grieving widow (matrone) at the tomb of Ephesus is consoled—and seduced—by a vigilant soldier, depicted here with spears, tombs, and expressive figures. The scene blends pathos and playful eroticism, hallmarks of La Fontaine's moral fables inspired by ancient sources like Petronius. Created amid the French Revolution's turbulence, the print showcases collaboration between literary giant Jean de La Fontaine, Rococo master Jean Honoré Fragonard (likely the designer), etcher Jean-Louis Delignon, and printer Pierre Didot l'aîné. Etching's fine lines capture Fragonard's fluid, sensual style—elegant drapery, dynamic poses, and emotional drama—on a generous sheet (13 9/16 × 9 11/16 in.). As a luxury book illustration, it reflects 18th-century France's blend of Enlightenment wit and aristocratic refinement, just before revolutionary upheaval. Acquired via the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1933, this Metropolitan Museum of Art treasure invites visitors to ponder timeless themes of love, duty, and human frailty through 18th-century artistry. A window into pre-Revolutionary print culture!

About the Artist

Jean de La Fontaine|Jean Honoré Fragonard|Jean-Louis Delignon|Pierre Didot l'ainé (French|French|French) · 1621 |1750 | –1695 |1780 |

French, Château-Thierry 1621–1695 Paris|active ca. 1750 (?)–1780|Paris