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1 of 253523 objects
Sancho Panza despairs at the loss of his donkey c.1786
Woven silk and wool tapestry | 351.0 x 317.5 cm (whole object) | RCIN 3192
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One panel from a series of Gobelins tapestries depicting the story of Don Quixote, based on the novel by Miguel de Cervantes. The scene illustrated is: Sancho Panza despairs at the loss of his donkey (Sancho s'eveille et se desespere de ne plus retrouver son cher crison que Cines de Passamont luy enleve). Sancho Panza is shown sitting on wooden horse with Don Quixote standing by him, within a highly decorative pink ground in imitation of crimson damask (damas cramoisi) decorated with fruit, flowers and trophies. Woven in the workshop of Jacques Neilson after a design by Charles-Antoine Coypel, one of four panels in the Royal Collection from a series of twenty-eight. This series of tapestries was first mentioned in the Gobelins records in 1714, and was repeatedly rewoven throughout the eighteenth century, sometimes with modified borders. The borders eclipse the scenes in importance and the designers of the former were paid correspondingly more than the artist, C. Coypel, who provided the cartoons for the scenes.
Provenance
The four tapestries in this group were presented on 18 July 1788 by Louis XVI to the artist Richard Cosway, as a gesture of thanks for the four tapestry cartoons by Giulio Romano of the history of Scipio which Cosway had given to the King for display in the Louvre. Cosway gave them to George IV shortly afterwards; they were eventually hung in Carlton House. This panel, along with 3193 was hung in the Saloon of Marlbrough House during the time of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra (as Prince and Princess of Wales). They remained there when George V and Queen Mary resided there between 1901 and 1910, and a photograph shows they were still in position in 1912. By 1927 they had been moved to the West Gallery of Buckingham Palace, where they remain, reunited with the other two panels.
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Creator(s)
(tapestry manufacturer)(designer)(nationality)Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Woven silk and wool tapestry
Measurements
351.0 x 317.5 cm (whole object)
Category
Object type(s)
Other number(s)
Alternative title(s)
Sancho s'eveille et se desespere de ne plus retrouver son cher crison que Cines de Passamont luy enleve.