Les aventures de Télémaque, fils d'Ulysse par M. de Fénélon ; avec figures en taille-douce, dessinées par MM. Cochin et Moreau le jeune

Art Historical Context

Step into the neoclassical elegance of *Les Aventures de Télémaque, fils d'Ulysse*, a lavish 0 edition of François de Salignac de La Mot-Fénelon's beloved 1699 moral fable. Inspired by Homer's *Odyssey*, the tale follows Telemachus on his quest for virtue amid adventure, serving as a subtle critique of Louis XIV'sism. This two-volume set, standing at a compact 9 13/16 inches tall, exemplifies late 18th-century French book arts, blending literature with exquisite visual storytelling. The standout feature is its *figures en taille-douce*—delicate engravings designed by masters Charles Nicolas Cochin II and Jean-Michel Moreau the Younger. Cochin, a pillar of the French Royal Academy, and Moreau, renowned for his intricate vignettes in works like the *Tableaux de la Révolution*, crafted scenes alive with graceful figures, mythical seascapes, and moral symbolism. Printed and bound with care (possibly by Jean-Claude Bozerian), these illustrations elevated the book from text to treasure, reflecting the era's passion for enlightened pedagogy through art. Published on the eve of the French Revolution, this edition captures a fleeting moment of cultural refinement. Now a gift of Jayne Wrightsman in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Libraries, it invites visitors to trace the threads of classical heroism, artistic virtuosity, and revolutionary undercurrents in one elegant package.

About the Artist

François de Salignac de La Mothe-Fénelon|Charles Nicolas Cochin II|Jean Michel Moreau the Younger|Jean Claude Bozerian (French|French|French|French) · 1651 |1715 |1741 |1762 –1715 |1790 |1814 |1840

French, Château de Fénelon, Périgord 1651–1715 Cambrai|French, Paris 1715–1790 Paris|French, Paris 1741–1814 Paris|French, 1762–1840