Name/TitlePearwood fan, the mount decorated with a drawing of Don Quixote by Salvador Dali

About this objectBlack pearwood folding fan with sketched cotton leaf 'For Rosa Recasens' - Don Quixote and Sancho Pansa
Salvador Dali, 1978.

The subject matter of the drawing is the novel 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes. The novel follows the adventures of Alonso Quijano, who reads too many chivalric novels and sets out to revive chivalry under the name of Don Quixote. He recruits a simple farmer, Sancho Panza, as his squire who frequently deals with Don Quixote's rhetorical orations on antiquated knighthood with an unique earthy wit.

Published in two volumes, in 1605 and 1615, Don Quixote is considered the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age and the entire Spanish literary canon. As a founding work of modern western literature and one of the earliest canonical novels, it regularly appears high on lists of the greatest works of fiction ever published. Salvador Dali (1904-89) was fascinated by it and Don Quixote and Sancho Panza appear frequently in his art.

MakerDali, Salvador

Maker RoleArtist

Date Made1978

PeriodTwentieth Century

Place MadeSpain

Place NotesDecorated by Dali in Spain

Place MadeSpain

CollectionThe Fan Museum Trust

Credit LineThe Fan Museum

Object TypeFan (folding)

Object numberLDFAN2013.77