88 - An exceptional and delicate Brussels tapestry made of wool and silk. Flanders, early 18th century, Leyniers-Reydams workshop, circa 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 from Chapter VIII of the first part of Cervantes’ *Don Quixote*: Don Quixote mistakes the windmills for giants, charges 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 reddish-brown background, creating a framing effect. 327 cm high x 255 cm wide (conservation restorations; some oxidation and natural wear; beautiful polychromy)

An exceptional and delicate Brussels tapestry made of wool and silk. Flanders, early 18th century, Leyniers-Reydams workshop, circa 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 from Chapter VIII of the first part of Cervantes’ *Don Quixote*: Don Quixote mistakes the windmills for giants, charges 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 reddish-brown background, creating a framing effect. 327 cm high x 255 cm wide (conservation restorations; some oxidation and natural wear; beautiful polychromy) Provenance: Jonquet, auction of October 18, 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 story and 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 in New York also houses another famous depiction of Don Quixote attacking the windmills. This is particularly interesting because 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, toppled along with his horse after his attack on the windmill. We can make out his horse, Rocinante, also off balance, on the left, and on the right, Sancho Panza, who 7920 accompanies his master. In the middle ground, a large wooden windmill and several others appear in the background, along with a Flemish village and its buildings; one also notices lush, abundant vegetation in the foreground, and the blue sky lends a strong sense of depth to the composition.