Francis Hayman, R.A. c.1708-1776

Tobias Smollett's translation of The History and Adventures of the Renowned Don Quixote by Cervantes was published in 1755 with twenty-eight plates after drawings by Hayman. In the late 1760's Hayman produced a set of oil paintings which are mostly related to these illustrations. Six of these are in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, and two were exhibited at Kenwood in the 1987 Hayman exhibition (nos. 44 and 45). Edward Dayes reported that Hayman's 'pictures of Don Quixote were so well received that he had an order to paint two copies for Madrid'. Two scenes from Don Quixote, now untraced, were last recorded as lot 13 in a sale at Phillips on 29th January 1806.