Gawking At Don Quixote
Colm TóibÃn writes: ‘The Frick is running at the moment a small and brilliantly coherent show based on the relationship between the French artist Charles Coypel (1694-1752) and images from “Don Quixote.” Between 1714 and 1734 Coypel made twenty-seven paintings of moments from the novel (in 1751 he made one more), some of which are hanging in this show. The most distinguished French engravers of the age used these paintings for works that are also hanging close by. But perhaps the most significant and beautiful transformation of Coypel’s work on Quixote was done by the Gobelins Tapestry Manufactory. They made two hundred panels based on Coypel’s work. Three large, sumptuous, and elaborate examples of the Quixote tapestries are on display at the Frick as well.’
