Julio Gonzalez (1876-1942)

Don Quichotte

Details

Julio Gonzalez (1876-1942)
Don Quichotte
inscribed and numbered on the right side '© GONZALEZ 4/6', inscribed with foundry mark on the back 'C.P. VALSUANI'
bronze with dark brown patina
Height: 16 7/8in. (42.9cm.)
Original forged iron version executed 1929-1930; this bronze version cast by the estate of the artist, number four in an edition of six plus four casts marked 0, 00, EA, HC and one cast marked M.E.A.C. for the donación González

Provenance

Galerie de France, Paris

Literature

V. Aguilera Cerni, Julio González, Rome, 1962, pl. XXXIII (forged iron version illustrated)
M.N. Pradel de Grandry, Julio González, Milan, 1966, pl. V (forged iron version illustrated)
V. Aguilera Cerni, Julio González, Madrid, 1971, p. 36 (forged iron version illustrated)
V. Aguilera Cerni, Julio, Joan, Roberta González: Itinerario de una dinastia, Barcelona, 1973, no. 201 (forged iron version illustrated, p. 252)
J. Withers, Julio González, Sculptures in Iron, New York, 1978, no. 23 (forged iron version illustrated, pl. 11)
J. Merkert, Julio González, Catalogue raisonné de sculptures, Milan, 1987, no. 100 (forged iron version illustrated, p. 80)

Exhibited

Caracas, Centro Cultural Consolidado, Cinco Grandes de España, Aug.,-Oct., 1992, no. 14 (illustrated, p. 85)

Lot Essay

González's conception of the tragicomic figure of Don Quixote represents the austere and imposing qualities of the Spanish nobleman as well as his humorous frailties. The sculptor realizes this literary subject through original and expressive means; he contrast the dual nature of his subject by means of a series of contrapuntal devices. The rigid, thrusting form of the lance supports the hunched and bent shapes of Don Quixote's back, neck and right arm. The sculpture is viewed to the best advantage from the sides, where the linear and curvilinear forms encompass a large interior space, which may be interpreted as either volume or void.