The Adventure of Mambrino's Helmet (Six Illustrations for Don Quixote)

The Adventure of Mambrino's Helmet (Six Illustrations for Don Quixote) by William Hogarth is a distinguished example of British printmaking from the mid-eighteenth century, executed in 1756. This specific impression represents the third and final state of the work, utilizing the combined processes of etching and engraving to achieve its crisp, illustrative detail.

The subject matter depicts one of the most famous episodes from Miguel de Cervantes’s foundational novel, Don Quixote. Hogarth captures the deluded protagonist, an aging man obsessed with chivalry, as he encounters a barber carrying a brass basin for shaving. The knight, astride his horse, perceives this mundane object as the golden, magical Helmet of Mambrino, demanding it be relinquished. The composition is dynamic, focusing on the confrontation between the frantic men and the bewildered bystanders. The presence of donkeys and horses grounds the fantastical claim within the harsh, mundane realities of Spanish travel, underscoring the satirical core of the novel.

Although renowned primarily for his original moralizing narratives, Hogarth also contributed significantly to literary illustration during his career. This piece is part of a series of six illustrations Hogarth produced for the Spanish tale, demonstrating his masterful ability to translate complex character interactions and high drama into the linear medium of print. Today, this key work is classified as a print within the expansive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving an important record of Hogarth’s late-period engagement with celebrated European literature.