Artist: Francis Barlow (c. 1626 – 1704) was an English painter, etcher, and illustrator.
Title: The Porcupines and Adders. Illustration from Aesop's Fables.
Dimensions: Image 5" x 6". Sheet 8" x 7 3/8".
Publisher: William Godbid, the person involved in the 17th-century publishing trade.
Edition: Aesop's Fables with his life in English, French & Latin. The English by Tho. Philpott Esq. The French and Latin by Rob. Codrington MA. Illustrated with one hundred and twelve sculptures by Francis Barlow. (1st edition).
Date: 1666.
Materials and Techniques: etching and letterpress.
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: Wear at edges. Cropped. The signs of aging are appropriate for the time. A detailed condition report is available on demand.
Part of: Fable XL, p. 57.
Museums and Libraries: The British Museum 2005,0331.9.
Art Movements, Periods & Schools: English School XVII C.
Note: This entry incorporates text from fablesofaesop.com and the description of the same item from the collection of the British Museum.
- The first edition was largely destroyed in the Great Fire of London of 1666.
- Despite an agreement with the snakes to share, the porcupine defended not sharing with his quills. Ouch.
Hasty partnerships may be repented of.