Artwork
The Fox and the Turkey Hens
The Fox and the Turkey Hens is a drawing by the Baroque artist Jean-Baptiste Oudry. It dates from 1733 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This drawing illustrates a fable where turkeys' excessive anxiety about a fox makes them vulnerable to attack.
About this work
This drawing was made to illustrate one of La Fontaine’s fables—short stories that teach a lesson.
You see a fox creeping toward a group of nervous turkey hens in a sunlit field.
This drawing was made to illustrate one of La Fontaine’s fables—short stories that teach a lesson. The turkeys worry so much about the fox that they don’t notice him sneaking closer. Oudry drew over 270 of these scenes, turning old tales into lively pictures.
To see more of these animal stories, look up the subject france, 18th century.
Overview
This drawing illustrates a fable where turkeys' excessive anxiety about a fox makes them vulnerable to attack. Created by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, it is one of 276 designs accompanying Jean de La Fontaine's humorous yet educational stories.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a fox sneaking up on a group of nervous turkey hens in a sunlit field, illustrating the moral that excessive worry can lead to the very outcome feared.
Technique & Style
While specific medium details are not provided, Oudry's lively illustration style is evident in the dynamic portrayal of the fox and turkeys, characteristic of his work in illustrating La Fontaine's fables.
History & Provenance
Published in four volumes (1755-1759), this drawing was part of 'The Fables of La Fontaine', a prestigious publishing project. The volumes, designed as collectible art objects, were reissued in subsequent centuries due to their success.
Context
Commissioned to illustrate La Fontaine's fables, this drawing is part of a broader 18th-century French artistic and literary endeavor, reflecting the period's appreciation for moral tales and high-quality illustrated publications.
Legacy
As part of Oudry's extensive illustrations for La Fontaine, this drawing contributes to a lasting visual interpretation of the fables, with the collection remaining notable in the history of French publishing and art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Baptiste Oudry was a French Rococo painter, engraver, and tapestry designer. He is particularly well known for his naturalistic pictures of animals and his hunt pieces depicting game. His son, Jacques-Charles Oudry, was also a painter.
