Paris, Boulet, [1799]. Oblong broadsheet (over 48.5 x 60.5 cm). Colour etching, finished by hand. Framed and glazed. Simple modern green wooden frame.

A fine, lively, powerful illustration of a lion fighting a snake. After an original drawing by the British artist James Northcote (1746-1831), whose illustrations of lions and tigers are among his most captivating. Northcote was a pupil of the great British portrait painter Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), first president of the Royal Academy of Arts. The French engraver Renard, about whom little else is known - he is not listed by Bénézit - enhanced Northcote's original by a skilful use of shades. Published by the firm of Boulet, rue Chabannais, in Paris. Some spotting, but hardly visible. A small defect in the upper margin, otherwise very good.