Image 1801London-01-004 
Illustration No. 1     
Illustrator José del Castillo 
Engraver William Byrne 
Lithographer  
Title Caption Don Quixote in his Study 
Title Supplied  
Part Part I, Madrid 1605  
Chapter Chapter 1 
Subject 1.1 DQ at his library reading chivalric novels
 
Illustration Type Chapter illustration
 
Technique Etching (acquaforte)
Burin engraving
 
Color Black and white 
Volume
Page Number f.p. 1 
Image Dimension 140 x 93 
Page Dimension 211 x 128 
Commentary Don Quixote, reading chivalry books at his library ("Amadís de Gaula"), becomes mad (see his gesture and eyes). Forced position and gesture. Details from the text: arms abandoned at a corner, the skinny greyhound...
Interest by a realistic setting (period clothes and furniture).
Lack of skill in some engraving details (don Quixote's hands and face, the greyhound...). 
Notes Copied from José del Castillo and Manuel Salvador y Carmona's illustration (Madrid: Ibarra, 1780).

William Byrne (London, 1743 – London, 1805): Engraver. He began his art instruction with his uncle; then, in France, he became a disciple of Jacques Aliamet (1726 – 1788) and Jean Georges Willet (1715 – 1808). He engraved designs after Italian masters and achieved a great reputation as a landscape engraver. His son, John Byrne (London, 1786 – 1847), was a watercolorist and an engraver too, working with his father (Benezit II, 426).