An etching by Claude Gillot, 'The Fox and the Lion' illustrates one of La Fontaine's fables, depicting a fox cautiously approaching a lion's den.

Claude Gillot (1673-1722) was a French painter, printmaker, and stage designer, who worked in the late Baroque and early Rococo styles. He is known for his illustrations of fables and theatrical scenes. Gillot trained with his father, a decorative painter, and later with the painter Jean-Baptiste Corneille. He was admitted to the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1715. Gillot's work often features lively figures, elaborate costumes, and theatrical settings. He influenced later artists such as Antoine Watteau and Nicolas Lancret. 'The Fox and the Lion' is an etching that illustrates one of La Fontaine's fables. The composition shows a fox cautiously approaching a lion's den. The lion peers out from the cave, while the fox appears wary, its body language suggesting apprehension. A figure with a spear stands in the background, adding to the sense of danger. The etching is characterised by fine, delicate lines that create a sense of depth and texture.