Don Quixote (Teno)
Encyclopedia
Don Quixote is a sculpture by Aurelio Teno located at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
, United States
. The sculpture of Don Quixote was a gift from Spain
for the Bicentennial of the United States of America. In 1993 it was surveyed as part of the Smithsonian Institution
's Save Outdoor Sculpture!
program.
. Only the front part of Don Quixote and his horse are visible. The horse appears to be charging forward out of the stone with his head raised, mouth open, and hooves kicking. The left foot of the horse is not formed, intentionally, by Teno. In Don Quixote's hand is a 12 ft. lance
made of steel. Both figures are loosely modeled and the figures and stone rest on an 66 ton oval base (4 x 5 x 12 ft.) which was cut into three pieces and sent by ship to the United States. An inscription on the sculpture is signed:
on June 3, 1976.
program. The program stated that Don Quixote needed treatment.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The sculpture of Don Quixote was a gift from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
for the Bicentennial of the United States of America. In 1993 it was surveyed as part of the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture! is a community-based effort to identify, document, and conserve outdoor sculpture in the United States. By fostering awareness and appreciation, SOS! aims to advocate proper care of a nationwide public resource....
program.
Description
Don Quixote depicts a bronze and stone figure of Don Quixote wearing a full suit of armor riding his horse Rosinante which emerges out of a jagged piece of stone. The jagged stone is made of Colmenar stone from PamplonaPamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
. Only the front part of Don Quixote and his horse are visible. The horse appears to be charging forward out of the stone with his head raised, mouth open, and hooves kicking. The left foot of the horse is not formed, intentionally, by Teno. In Don Quixote's hand is a 12 ft. lance
Lance
A Lance is a pole weapon or spear designed to be used by a mounted warrior. The lance is longer, stout and heavier than an infantry spear, and unsuited for throwing, or for rapid thrusting. Lances did not have tips designed to intentionally break off or bend, unlike many throwing weapons of the...
made of steel. Both figures are loosely modeled and the figures and stone rest on an 66 ton oval base (4 x 5 x 12 ft.) which was cut into three pieces and sent by ship to the United States. An inscription on the sculpture is signed:
- SCULPTOR
- A. TENO
- MADRID
- ESPANA - 1976
Acquisition
The sculpture was a gift of Spain to the United States on behalf of their bicentennial. It was presented by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía of SpainQueen Sofía of Spain
Queen Sofía of Spain is the wife of King Juan Carlos I of Spain.-Early life and family:Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark was born in Psychiko, Athens, Greece on 2 November 1938, the eldest child of the King Paul of Greece and his wife, Queen Frederika , a former princess of Hanover...
on June 3, 1976.
About the artist
Spanish artist Aurelio Teno started his professional sculpture career at age eight. He described Don Quixote as his life work, having devoted his career to creating art about the subject.Condition
In 1993 the sculpture was surveyed as part of the Smithsonian Institution's Save Outdoor Sculpture!Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture! is a community-based effort to identify, document, and conserve outdoor sculpture in the United States. By fostering awareness and appreciation, SOS! aims to advocate proper care of a nationwide public resource....
program. The program stated that Don Quixote needed treatment.
External links
- Don Quixote from dcMemorials.