The Rat Retired from the World

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Two rats have come to beg for alms to a another rat who has made his home in a Dutch cheese

The rat retired from the world.

Artist

Name:: Grandville, J.-J.
Dates:: 1803-1847
Country:: France

Illustration

Subjects:: Animals, Narratives
Technique:: Wood Engraving
Engravers:: Brevière, Louis-Henri; Hébert, César-Auguste
Format:: Landscape (wider)
Source:: St. Michael's College Library, the Internet Archive

Book

Title:: Fables de La Fontaine (Grandville), vol. 1
Author:: La Fontaine, Jean de
Publisher:: Paris: Henri Fournier Aîné, 1838
Open Library:: View record

Description:

Two rats, wearing hats and carrying staffs, approach a third rat to beg for alms. Nestled inside a Dutch cheese, the third rat makes excuses to turn them away empty-handed.

The caption reads in the original French: Le rat qui s’est retiré du monde.

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Cite this page:

{{cite web | title=The Rat Retired from the World | url=https://www.oldbookillustrations.com/illustrations/rat-retired/ | author=Grandville, J.-J. | year=1838 | access-date=July 28, 2026 | publisher=Old Book Illustrations}}