Friday, October 28, 2011

Le Corbeau et le Renard


The poet Jean de la Fontaine spent almost three decades
writing his version of 243 fables. 
This statue in Square du Ranelagh shows him regardant à ses pieds
le Corbeau et le Renard, one of his revered fables.


Square du Ranelagh
Métro La Muette
75016 Paris
at

26 comments:

  1. French Girl in SeattleOctober 28, 2011 at 2:23 AM

    Ah, monsieur de la Fontaine! Bien sûr, if - like most French elementary school students - you'd had to learn his famous "fables" by heart and recite them weekly in front of your teacher and classmates, you might not have looked so fondly at this statue, Genie ;-) Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

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  2. LouiseOctober 28, 2011 at 2:46 AM

    What a fantastic statue. I'm not familiar with Jean de la Fontaine's fables. But would now like to read one on the steps of his statue.

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  3. UnknownOctober 28, 2011 at 2:52 AM

    mon amie, beaucoup de bieses pour toi and have a great weekend ! it s a nice pic, big hugh Kathrin
    always I love it to see your blog, dreaming of Paris

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  4. MalyssOctober 28, 2011 at 3:15 AM

    I'm with Veronique!We suffered soooo much becauseof M. de La Fontaine at school!

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  5. Janey and Co.October 28, 2011 at 3:33 AM

    I love it! I will put that on my list for sure!...Have a wonderful weekend...Janey

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  6. diveOctober 28, 2011 at 3:45 AM

    What an absolutely delightful statue, Genie.

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  7. PerthDailyPhotoOctober 28, 2011 at 3:55 AM

    I like this statue very much Genie, it definitely has a touch of humour to it. M. de La Fontaine was a very wise man.
    The Queen is here to open CHOGM, so we have Heads of Government and their entourages coming out of our ears!! You can just imagine what a perfect opportunity it is for everyone to 'protest' about all the wrong goings on in the
    commonwealth countries. It's going to be a hectic weekend in Perth.

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  8. JoeOctober 28, 2011 at 4:01 AM

    An amazing statue but this man of words does look a little weighed down by the bulk of his hair and his cape.

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  9. JamesOctober 28, 2011 at 4:48 AM

    I loved fables and Jean de la Fontaine when I was a boy! Thankfully I never felt the pressure of having to recite his work. I'll definitely have to look for this statue if I'm in Paris again.

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  10. PatOctober 28, 2011 at 4:58 AM

    That's a wonderful statue. You can tell I don't go hardly ever to La Muette, and haven't seen it.

    I remember learning a fable of La Fonataine's....

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  11. Shell SherreeOctober 28, 2011 at 5:35 AM

    They certainly knew how to do big hair back then. Your photo captures the charm of this statue beautifully, dear Genie. Bon weekend...

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  12. PetOctober 28, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    You see, I didn't know about this statue. I will like to take my children there. Thanks for the tip, it goes straight into my Paris list.

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  13. HalcyonOctober 28, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    Interesting statue. I have never seen this either!

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  14. Paris PaulOctober 28, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    Something that surprised me when I came to France was that La Fontaine "borrowed liberally" from Aesop for his stories and that the French have no idea who Aesop was!

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  15. Lynne with an eOctober 28, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    What a fabulous sculpture! I would recognize its meaning instantly. It simply delights me.

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  16. biebkriebelsOctober 28, 2011 at 11:47 AM

    In highschool I had to learn this poem in french to recite in front of the classroom. I still can recite many phrases of it without printed paper. Funny to see the corbeau et le renard again here.

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  17. MOctober 28, 2011 at 12:55 PM

    Having read the fables as a child, seeing this statue was a delight. It made finding Marmottan closed for the day a little less disappointing ...

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  18. AnonymousOctober 28, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    I find this statue very interesting. I know nothing about him or his fables but enjoy looking at this statue.

    Kris

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  19. AlexaOctober 28, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    I would recognize him right away if I came upon this statue—if not by his prodigious wig, then by his fox and crow. You left the city center to get this one, Genie!

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  20. Hana de PragueOctober 28, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    Nice, I didn´t know it, I will go to see it! Merci for sharing the photo, Genie, and have a nice weekend
    Hana

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  21. RandyOctober 29, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    Interesting sculpture.

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  22. Genie -- Paris and BeyondOctober 29, 2011 at 1:28 AM

    Louise, I think that you might recognize many of his fables as they have been told and retold in various versions over the years. If you click on the link you will find a site with many of his fables. As Paul has pointed out, we know many of them as Aesop.

    Pet, there is a park just north of this statue with a caroussel or two, marionettes, and a play yard which is always full of children. As Marie noted, the Marmottan (Monet) is just at the edge of the park.

    Alexa, you are right about leaving the city center. I will have to return when Marie comes to Paris again to revisit the Marmottan.

    There are so many statues in Paris, and many are unknown to me. However, this one captured my attention immediately many years ago, and Holly was the first with the "a hah" moment, having read this story in French class.

    Enjoy your weekend, all!

    Bises,
    Genie

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  23. Elizabeth at Eiffel TellsOctober 29, 2011 at 7:41 AM

    A charming photo of an impressive statue with an interesting history. I was not aware of this statue of Jean de la Fontaine - another site to add to my Paris “must do” list. Un bon weekend.

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  24. AnonymousOctober 29, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    amazing.

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  25. Auberge chez RichardOctober 29, 2011 at 5:54 PM

    Maître Corbeau, sur un arbre perché, Tenait en son bec un fromage...I remember this being drilled into me - by my ever impatient teachers in Paris.
    Great

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  26. CélineNovember 4, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    I agree with French people. I think everyboby in France is able to cite at least a few sentences from Les Fables de Lafontaine!
    To continue Lapin Agile citation:
    "Maitre Renard par l'odeur alléché
    Lui tint à peu près ce langage..."
    Sorry my english is too poor to translate that!

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Merci for your comments!