Artwork

Don Quichote, after Goya

Don Quichote, after Goya, by Félix Bracquemond, 1860
Don Quichote, after Goya, by Félix Bracquemond, 1860

Don Quichote, after Goya is a print by the Impressionist artist Félix Bracquemond. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Félix Bracquemond's 1860 print, Don Quichote, after Goya, is a representation of the legendary literary figure, inspired by Francisco Goya's interpretation. The work is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts Don Quichote seated at a desk, immersed in books and papers, conveying his scholarly and perhaps melancholic persona. Background figures, including a woman and a sword-bearing man, hint at the broader narrative of chivalric delusions.

Technique & Style

Executed in a realistic manner, the print emphasizes detailed textures and muted tonalities, predominantly in browns and grays, reflecting a subdued, contemplative atmosphere.

History & Provenance

Created in 1860 by Félix Bracquemond, the print is now housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art, with its creation directly acknowledged as 'after Goya', highlighting the influence.

Context

While the print's style aligns more closely with realism, its subject matter and the reference to Goya situate it within a broader 19th-century European engagement with literary and artistic heritage.

Legacy

As a specific interpretation of Don Quichote, this work contributes to the character's enduring presence in art, though its impact is more nuanced, reflecting Bracquemond's response to Goya's vision rather than a groundbreaking innovation.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Félix Bracquemond

Artist

Félix Bracquemond

Félix Henri Bracquemond (French pronunciation: ; 22 May 1833 – 29 October 1914) was a French painter, etcher, and printmaker.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.