Artist: Charles-Nicolas Cochin II (French, 1715–1790) (for L'Amitié), and various unidentified 18th-century master designers.
Engraver: Jean-Jacques Le Veau (French, 1729–1786) (for L'Amitié), and unidentified 18th-century European printmakers.
Title: A Group of Five Classical and Literary Book Illustrations, including Scenes from François Fénelon's The Adventures of Telemachus and an Allegory of Friendship (L'Amitié).
Inscriptions: Sheet 1: Uninscribed. Sheet 2: Inscribed in German inside lower plate: "9. Nachdem Telemac die Armee des Adrast geschlagen, und zerstreuet, sorgt er für die Verwundeten, welche auf dem Schlachtfeld waren." Sheet 3: Inscribed in German inside lower plate: "15. Philoctet will sich am Ulysses rächen, der ihm seine Waffen hatte rauben lassen." Sheet 4: Uninscribed. Sheet 5 (L'Amitié): Inscribed in plate upper right: "4"; centered on the pedestal: LONGUE ET PROPE / MORS ET VITA; lower center: L'AMITIE; l.l.: C.N. Cochin del.; l.r.: LeVeau Sculp.
Dimensions: Sheet dimensions vary; individual plates approximately 140 × 90 mm to 170 × 115 mm. Details available upon request.
Printer: Unknown 18th-century printing workshops (Paris, Germany).
Publisher: Unidentified historical book publishers.
Edition: Varied historical book editions, late 18th century.
Date: c. 1775–1790.
Materials and Techniques: Etching and engraving on laid paper.
Watermark: Visible on select sheets, typical of 18th-century European paper mills. Detailed imaging available upon request.
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: The signs of aging are appropriate for the time. Minor marginal tears, localized paper thinning, and soft foxing consistent with old book extraction. A detailed condition report is available on demand.
Catalog Raisonné: For Sheet 5 (L'Amitié): IFF 136 (under Le Veau); Roux 1930.
Part of: Late 18th-century illustrated standard editions of François Fénelon's epic prose novel Les Aventures de Télémaque (The Adventures of Telemachus) and related allegorical works.
Museums, Libraries and Auctions: A lifetime impression of Sheet 5 (L'Amitié) is preserved in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. (Accession No. 1944.5.65).
Art Movements, Periods and Schools: French School XVIII C.; German School XVIII C.; Neo-Classicism / Late Baroque.
Note: This composite lot gathers fine examples of 18th-century book illustration, capturing Europe's fascination with classical mythology and didactic literature. Four sheets directly visualize key narratives from Fénelon's highly influential text The Adventures of Telemachus, including specific dramatic scenes depicting the actions of Telemachus on the battlefield and Philoctetes recounting his betrayal by Ulysses. The fifth sheet is an iconic allegorical illustration designed by the celebrated royal draftsman Charles-Nicolas Cochin II.
Acknowledgement: This entry incorporates text from online sources and the catalog entry of a similar item in the British Museum collection.