An etching by Claude Gillot titled 'The Ox and the Mite', depicting a bucolic scene with an ox in the foreground and a grand manor in the background, rendered in fine, precise lines.

Claude Gillot (1673-1722) was a French painter, printmaker, and stage designer, who represents a link between the academic and decorative style of Louis XIV and the lighter, more playful Rococo. Gillot trained with his father, and later with Jean-Baptiste Corneille. He is known for his illustrations of fables and theatrical scenes, and for his influence on artists such as Antoine Watteau. 'The Ox and the Mite' is an etching that depicts a bucolic scene with an ox standing prominently in the foreground. A figure stands beside the ox. In the background, a building resembling a grand manor or palace is visible, along with other figures and details of the surrounding environment. The etching style is characterised by fine, precise lines that create a sense of depth and texture. The composition is balanced, with the ox serving as the central subject, drawing the viewer's eye across the scene. The overall tone is pastoral and somewhat whimsical, typical of Gillot's style, which often incorporated elements of theatre and storytelling.