The Monkey and the Dolphin
Artist
Pierre Chenu
(French, 1718 or 1730–about 1800)
Artistafter
Jean-Baptiste Oudry
(French, 1686–1775)
Date1753–1759
Mediumetching on cream laid paper
Dimensionsplate: 30.4 × 22.3 cm (11 15/16 × 8 3/4 in.)
sheet: 46.3 × 30.3 cm (18 1/4 × 11 15/16 in.)
sheet: 46.3 × 30.3 cm (18 1/4 × 11 15/16 in.)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineGift of Elizabeth Marangoni
Object number1997.165
DescriptionBased on a fable by Aesop, a monkey is on a capsized boat when a dolphin, assuming the monkey is a human sailor, swims by and saves him. Continuing to lie that he is human, the monkey eventually gets caught. Angry at the monkey’s deception, the dolphin dives into the water and lets the monkey drown. Moral: a flood of lies eventually leads to trouble.Label TextBased on a fable by Aesop, a monkey is on a capsized boat when a dolphin, assuming the monkey is a human sailor, swims by and saves him. Continuing to lie that he is human, the monkey eventually gets caught. Angry at the monkey’s deception, the dolphin dives into the water and lets the monkey drown. Moral: a flood of lies eventually leads to trouble.ProvenanceElizabeth Marangoni, Florence, Italy
On View
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