Don Quixote Consults the Enchanted Head · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Don Quixote Consults the Enchanted Head
Period: 1700-1750;
Geographic: Spain; Barcelona; Europe
Description: Don Quixote and the guests of Don Antonio enter Antonio's chamber which holds the enchanted head. This head is famous for its ability talk and predict the future by answering whatever question is asked of it. Quixote asks the head about Dulcinea de Toboso and Sancho Panza asks the head about whether he will ever come to govern his own house once more. The enchanted head is held in a room which is entirely barren aside from itself. The head stands upon a table and frame, the legs of which resemble four eagle claws, carved from wood and varnished to look like jasper. The head, which looked like the bust of a roman emperor was of a brass color and hollow on the inside. Don Antonio had commissioned a statuary to construct a head through which a person could channel their voice while in another room.
Image Creator: Mr. Ozell (Engraver)
Type: StillImage; Engraving
Identifier: mta:24999
Language: eng
Source Name: The History of the Renowned Don Quixote De la Mancha
Parent Collection: 1749 Innys
Image: mta_24999_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Don Quixote
Subject: Don Quixote (Fictitious character) in bookplates; Panza, Sancho (Fictitious character); Practical jokes