Visions of Don Quixote

To anyone familiar with Miguel de Carvante's classic Spanish novel Don Quixote this picture will be like rereading the book! This painting illustrates the artists powerful ability to tell a story using a single picture.

From afar, the viewer sees an old man with a faraway and dreamlike expression on his face. Wild yellow hair and strange beard serve to complete the man's strange demeanor. Coming closer the viewer is transported to the Spanish countryside where one notices that the windmills in the center of the picture look like they are about to come to life!

Two proud heroes occupy the center of the picture and are backed by windmills. Don Quixote on his faithful steed Rocinante and Sancho Panzo on Dapple. The are surrounded by the world that lives in Don Quixote's mind.

In the middle right of the picture, Don Quixote is immortalized protesting that the deceased man still lives and he is getting ready to hijack his body to save him from an untimely funeral. If one focuses on the area around this scene, you will see the face of a dog, or a symbol of Quixote's madness!


The middle of the picture shows Xarifa working in the fields. Again this scene apears to be the face of a dog, to show the madness of Don Quixote imagining her to be Dulcinea (pictured in the upper left corner) Above Xarifa in the fields, the village of, La Mancha, is pictured surrounded by mythical dragons and sea monsters. While above the village sits the Dukes castle (Upper left) with the Duke's face pictured in the castle's wall. Careful observation will reveal a skull outlining the left of the castle, a hint of the Duke's sinister plans for our heroes.

The upper right side of the painting shows Miguel de Carvantes' ghostly face watching over his work, while the hills, rocks and dales alter with the power of the Man of La Mancha's madness.