Don Quixote Washed & Lathered · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Don Quixote Washed & Lathered
Period: 1750-1800;
Geographic: Spain; Europe
Description: Having outwitted the doctor, Don Quixote calmed down being in the presence of the Duke (pictured to the left) and the Duchess (pictured sitting next to the door). As they talked, four damsels entered the room (pictured behind Quixote), one of them with a silver basin , another with a silver Aask, a third with a couple of fine clean towels upon her arm; and the fourth, a ball of Neapolitan soap. She who carried the basin then approached Don Quixote and placed it directly under his chin. Thinking that it was the custom of the country to wash beards instead of hands, he stretched out his chin. The damsel who had the soap then lathered his beard. Quixote shut his eyelids tightly to keep the suds from stinging his eyes. Inscribed beneath the image it says "the merry damsels lather well the knight; then leave him soaking in a woeful plight; and while the tingling soap his vision hides; the Duke and the Duchess almost split their sides".
Image Creator: Rennoldson (Engraver); Wale Delind. (Illustrator)
Type: StillImage; Engraving
Identifier: mta:25013
Language: eng
Source Name: The History of the Renowned Don Quixote de La Mancha
Parent Collection: 1774 Cooke
Image: mta_25013_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Don Quixote
Subject: Hair; Shampooing; Don Quixote (Fictitious character) in bookplates; Indentured servants; Fiction