The allegory of Folly (dressed with small bells) takes don Quixote's hand and points to the Temple of the Fame. Next to don Quixote, a tomb; this can be a symbol about the inmortality that waits for don Quixote after his death. Also several symbols about Love (doves, Cupid's arms and little Cupids with books); they remember don Quixote's love for Dulcinea.
Small frontispiece but very well drawn and engraved (see details in trees, flowers, tomb, shining temple...).
Figures of excellent drawing. |
Luis Paret y Alcázar (Madrid, 1746 – Madrid, 1799): Painter, academician and engraver. He had an excellent classical education, which he completed studying oriental languages. He was instructed by Antonio González Velázquez, as Agustín Navarro was too, and, in Paris, by Charles-François de la Traverse, Boucher’s disciple. After diverse study travels to Italy, Netherlands and France, he took up residence in Madrid. Paret received several prizes from San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Madrid), of which he became a member. By order of Carlos III, he painted the ports of Spain and the most picturesque points of Spanish maritime border. He also designed numerous and remarkable illustrations and frontispieces. His style follows Watteau, Pannini and Longhi; it is agile, delicate, quick and mannerist, appropriate to Spanish Borbons’ liking. Benezit indicates that Paret made a remarkable series of illustrations for “Don Quixote” that never was engraved. He took part in Madrid: Sancha, 1797 – 1798 and Madrid: Sancha, 1798 – 1799; for this last edition, health problems prevented Paret from finishing the whole series, so it was completed by Francisco Alcántara (Benezit VIII, 125; Lenaghan 247-256).
Juan Moreno de Tejada (worked in Madrid between 1780 and 1810): Burin engraver. He engraved some plates for the Spanish Royal Academy edition of “Don Quixote” (Madrid: Ibarra, 1780) and for that of Madrid: Sancha, 1797-1798. He usually engraved portraits and views. He also engraved some plates for “Historia de la Conquista de México” (Madrid, 1783) (Benezit VII, 535). |
