BIB_ID
451206
Accession number
MA 23874.1
Creator
Saint-Exupéry, Antoine de, 1900-1944.
Display Date
New York, 1942
Credit line
Purchased on the Drue Heinz Fund for Twentieth-Century Literature, 2023.
Description
1 drawing
Notes
The Little Prince lies in the same posture as in the Morgan watercolor "Le petit prince allongé sur le ventre" (MA 2592.1); but instead of appearing alone, the fox stands in front of him. The prince's facial expression is consistent across the two drawings, as is the placement of the tree, but the appearance of the fox is a surprise. The drawing shows how Saint-Exupéry worked through different ideas for the plot and illustrations, ultimately deciding that the Little Prince would meet the fox in a different context.
11 x 8 1/2 inches (277 x 215 mm)
Provenance
Sold in Christie's online sale, The Alphabet of Genius: Important Autograph Letters and Manuscripts, 14 December 2023, lot 166; purchased on the Drue Heinz Fund for Twentieth-Century Literature, 2023.
Summary
Drawing shows the Little Prince lying on his stomach in front of a tree, the fox standing in front of him.
Medium
Graphite on onionskin paper
Catalog link
Classification
Department