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an image of a tapestry with a windmill in the backgroundpainting of a man riding a horse with a windmill in the backgroundpainting of a man riding a horse in a field with a building in the backgroundpainting of a windmill and a man with a flag in front of ita painting of a man riding a horse with a hat onan image of a painting of a man laying on the grounda painting on the wall of a building that has a picture of a man on a horsea painting on the wall of a room with a horse and a catpainting of a painting of a man and a woman in a landscapea painting of a bird sitting on a window silla picture of a painting on the wall of a roompainting of a man riding a horse next to a man laying on the grounda picture of a painting of a windmill on the wall
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88 - An exceptional and delicate Brussels tapestry in wool and si…
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Estimate €8,000 - €15,000
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Description
An exceptional and delicate Brussels tapestry in wool and silk. Flanders, early 18th century, Leyniers-Reydams workshop, c. 1715–20. Designs: Jean Van Orley for the figures and Augustin Coppens for the landscape. Title: Don Quixote attacking the windmills. Based on the episode in Chapter VIII of the first part of Cervantes’ *Don Quixote*: Don Quixote mistakes the windmills for giants, charges at them on horseback and is thrown to the ground when the windmill’s sails cause his lance to spin. Wide border featuring foliage, leather motifs, shells, volutes and rocaille elements in the Neo-Baroque style on a red-brown background, creating a framing effect. 327 cm high x 255 cm wide (conservation work carried out; some oxidation and natural wear; beautiful polychromy) Provenance: Jonquet, sale of 18 October 2009, lot 197 Comparison and Source: - The Detroit Institute of Arts holds a similar tapestry, by Urbanus and David Leyniers, Hendrix Reydams; Inv. 61.39. - Another tapestry from the Don Quixote series is held at the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels. - Drogo Castle, National Trust, also holds a major Don Quixote tapestry - The Metropolitan Museum, New York, also holds another famous depiction of Don Quixote attacking the windmills. This is particularly interesting as Leyniers’ Don Quixote series is one of the great narrative works produced in Brussels in the early 18th century. The scene is composed as a lively panoramic landscape, with Don Quixote in the foreground, thrown from his horse following his attack on the windmill. His horse, Rocinante, also off balance, can be seen on the left, and on the right, Sancho Panza, who 7920 accompanies his master. In the middle ground stands a large wooden windmill, with several others visible in the background, along with a Flemish village and its buildings; there is also lush, abundant vegetation in the foreground, and the blue sky lends a strong sense of depth to the composition.
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About the sale Provenance and Collection
Auction location
Auction time 10/30/2026 at 11:00 AM
Lot description modified on 10/13/2026 at 6:29 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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