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The Fable of Fox and Heron

The Fable of Fox and Heron is an oil painting by Frans Snyders depicting the story from Aesop's Fable. It was created in Antwerp sometime between 1630 and 1640, the painting is a composite of two stories, "The Fable of the Fox and Heron " and "The Frogs who asked for a King". In the painting, a fox sits on the river bank in the shade of twisting tree wrapped with vines. His spine curves with desire for the frogs in a long-necked bottle; the fox's coat of soft orange stands boldly against the dark washed brown dirt backdrop. The fox drools, open gaping pink mouth glaring at the reflective flask containing frogs and fish. One heron looks on boastfully as the other plucks a fish in its his long beak. The muted color palette of soft hues directs the viewers' eye to central scene.

Artist and technique
Father of the animal still life, Snyders studied under Pieter Brueghel the younger. There is much debate over the potential political statements Snyders was making in these game piece. == Aesop's Fables ==
Aesop's Fables
Visual or pictural adaptations of Aesop's Fables were a long-standing established tradition across Europe in the 17th century. Alongside the rise of animaliers in the Humanist movement of Antwerp was the rise of these pictorial adaptation that took on a life of their own. The Fable of the Fox and Heron (or stork) The Fox invites the Stork (or heron) over for mouse-tail soup which he serves in a flat bowl, inaccessible to stork's beak. So, the stork invites the sly fox over for sardine (or frog) stew which she serves in a slender necked bottle, inaccessible to the foxes stout snout. Moral of the story: One bad turn deserves another. Moral of the story: Know how good you've got it. ==References==
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