Cincinnati Art Museum January 27, 2017– May 14, 2017
A fable is a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral. We all know them, we are told fable stories from a young age to teach us important life lessons. These lessons do not prescribe ethical actions by which one may improve one’s character and be judged a good person. Rather, more often they offer advice to help the reader secure a safe future—a future marked by fewer mistakes in judgment. The Art of the Fable explores some of the most popular and renowned fables ever written, spoken, and passed along through generations. Each piece displayed in this exhibit was either inspired by, depicts, or applies to a historical fable, and is accompanied by a brief summary and moral. From the lesser known, like The Sun and The Wind, to the extremely well known, like The Tortoise and The Hare, allow The Art of the Fable to take you down a visual trail of fable stories.
The Story of
the country mouse and the city mouse The country mouse lives in a simple house and eats simple food. By comparison, the city mouse lives in a beautiful house and eats well every day. The country mouse wants the life of the city mouse. However, after he goes with the city mouse to taste experience city life, he does not like it any more. The country mouse prefers to be poor and happy rather than be rich and afraid. A simple life in peace and safety is preferable to a life of luxury tortured by fear.
The Country Mouse and The City Mouse Scott Gustafson Oil on panel 10 x 8 in Scott Gustafson is an American illustrator based in Chicago, Illinois. He has worked as a freelance cartoonist and contributed illustrations to various magazines and children’s books. In August 2011, his only novel Eddie: The Lost Youth of Edgar Allan Poe was published 6.
The Story of
the two goats There once lived two goats in a village. There was a narrow bridge over a river in the village. One day, the goats wanted to cross the bridge. One goat was on one side; the other one was on the other side. They both tried to go at once, but neither of them yielded to let the other across. They came to the middle of the bridge and began to fight terribly. As they were fighting, both of them fell into the river and drowned. It is better to yield than to come to misfortune through stubbornness.
Two Goats Rosa Bonheur Oil on canvas 36 3/4 x 28 5/8 in Rosa Bonheur was a 19th c. woman who achieved a successful career, and served as a role model for future generations of women artists. She was traditional in her working method, producing many preparatory sketches before moving to canvas. She exhibited her animal paintings and sculptures in Paris. 10.
The Story of
the ant and the grasshopper The story of “The Ant and the Grasshopper� is about an ant that that was busy moving ears of corn around while the grasshopper was lazing around. The grasshopper wanted the ant to stop and talk to him, but the ant was too busy preparing for winter. The grasshopper insisted that they had enough food for winter, but when the cold weather came, he realized that the ant was right and he should have been prepared. The situation sums up moral lessons about the virtues of hard work and planning for the future.
The Ant and The Grasshopper Jehan Georges Vibert Watercolor and gouache on cream wove card 316 x 415 mm The son of engraver and publisher, and grandson of an influential rose-breeder, Jehan Georges Vibert began his artistic training at a young age. He was more interested in painting than engraving studied for six years under the instruction of historic painter Franรงois-Edouard Picot. 14.
The Ant and The Grasshopper Jehan Georges Vibert
The Story of
king midas The story of King Midas is a myth about the tragedy of avarice and narrates what happens when true happiness is not recognized. Midas was a man who wished that everything he touched would turn into gold. However, he had not thought that this wish was not actually a blessing, but a curse. His greed invites us to think and realize the consequences that may lead us to become slaves of our own desires. The phrase the Midas touch comes from this myth and is used to say that somebody has a good fortune.
King Midas Michelangelo Cerquozzi (Rome 1602-1660) Oil on copper, laid down on panel 7½ x 9 5/8 in. (19 x 24.5 cm.) Michelangelo Cerquozzi was an Italian Baroque painter known for his genre scenes, battle pictures, small religious and mythological works and still lifes. His genre scenes were influenced by the work of the Flemish and Dutch genre artists.
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The Story of
the fox and the crow A crow has found a piece of cheese and retired to a branch to eat it. A fox, wanting it for himself, flatters the crow, calling it beautiful and wondering whether its voice is as sweet to match. When it lets out a caw, the cheese falls and is devoured by the fox. Be aware of flatterers and do not be vain.
The Fox and The Crow LĂŠon Rousseau Painted Panel 1 x 2.5 LĂŠon Rousseau was a farm owner and political figure in Canada East. He represented Yamaska in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1844 to 1848.
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The Story of
the crab and his mother One day a crab and his mother came out from their home to take a stroll on the sand. The mother tells the child to walk straight, yet she herself walks sideways. The mother is not setting a good example for her child. Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good example.
Two Crabs Vincent van Gogh Oil on Canvas 42 x 61 cm Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch son of a pastor. He was employed in various ways, including as a lay preacher. By 1883 he had started painting, and in 1885-6 he attended the academy in Antwerp. In 1886 Paris, he met and was inspired by artists such as Degas, Gauguin and Seurat. 28.
Two Crabs Vincent van Gogh
The Story of
the tortoise and the hare Once, a hare saw a tortoise walking slowly with a heavy shell on his back. The hare was very proud of himself and he asked the tortoise to race.The tortoise agreed. They started and the hare ran very fast, but the tortoise walked very slowly. The proud hair rested under a tree and soon slept off. But the tortoise walked slowly and steadily and reached the goal. At last, the tortoise won the race, baffling the hare. Slow but steady progress wins the race.
The Hare and The Tortoise Milo Winter Illustration 9 x 6 1/4 in Milo Winter was an American book illustrator from Princeton, Illinois. He trained at Chicago’s School of the Art Institute and created editions of Aesop’s Fables, Arabian Nights, Alice in Wonderland, Gulliver’s Travels, Tanglewood Tales, and others.
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The Story of
the lion and the mouse A lion threatens a mouse that wakes him from sleep. The mouse begs forgiveness and makes the point that such unworthy prey would bring the lion no honour. The lion then agrees and sets the mouse free. Later, the lion is netted by hunters. Hearing it roaring, the mouse remembers its clemency and frees it by gnawing through the ropes. Mercy brings its reward and there is no being so small that it cannot help a greater.
The Lion and The Mouse Frans Snyders Oil on Canvas 167 x 243 cm Frans Snyders was a Flemish painter of animals, hunting scenes, market scenes and still lifes. He was one of the earliest specialist animaliers and he is credited with initiating a wide variety of new still-life and animal subjects. He was a regular collaborator with leading Antwerp painters. 38.
The Story of
the sun and the wind The Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger. Suddenly they see a traveller coming down the road, and the Sun suggests that whichever of the two could cause the traveller to take off his jacket shall be regarded as the stronger. So the Sun retired behind a cloud, and the Wind began to blow as hard as it could upon the traveller. But the harder he blew the more closely did the traveller wrap his jacket round him, until at last the Wind had to give up in despair. Then the Sun came out and shone in all his glory upon the traveller, who soon found it too hot to walk with his cloak on. Kindness effects more than severity; gentle persuasion is stronger than force.
Sunlight After Storm, Windsor Edward Seago Oil on canvas 26 x 36 in Edward Seago was an English artist known for both his watercolors and oil paintings of beachscapes and street scenes. Working in a late Impressionistic style, Seago’s work is characterized by its carefully observed color modulation and grounded sense of realism.
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Sunlight After Storm, Windsor Edward Seago
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