Artist: Jean Honoré Fragonard (French, 1732–1806), after.
Engraver: Jean-Baptiste Patas (French, 1744?–?1802).
Title: Belphegor.
Inscription: At upper left: TOM. 1.er. At top center: No. 20. At upper right: P. 221.
Dimensions: Image 7 3/4" x 5 3/8". Sheet 12 3/8 x 9 3/4
Publisher: Pierre Didot l'ainé (French, 1761–1853).
Edition: Jean de La Fontaine (French, 1621–1695). 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.
Date: 1795.
Materials and Techniques: Etching and engraving on wove paper.
Provenance: The Estate of George "Yorgo" Demetrakopoulos; professor, assistant director of the Medieval Institute, and assistant to the dean at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, from 1965-2000.
Condition: Tears and stains to margins. The signs of aging are appropriate for the time. A detailed condition report is available on demand.
Catalog Raisonné: Cohen 578.25 ii/iii. Terminée avant la lettre.
Museums and Libraries: The Metropolitan Museum of Art 33.104.1.
Art Movements, Periods & Schools: French School XVIII C.
Note: Belphegor (or Baal Peor, Hebrew “Lord of the Gap”) is, in Christianity, a demon associated with one of the seven deadly sins known as sloth.
Acknowledgement: This entry incorporates text from Wikipedia and the catalog entry of a similar item from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. collection.