Don QUIXOTE
CHARACTER
Don Quixote
Don Quixote, the legendary knight errant created by Miguel de Cervantes in his masterpiece "Don Quixote of La Mancha," written between 1605 and 1615, is the embodiment of idealism and dream.
For Cervantes, he represents the essence of the quest for truth, justice, and unconditional love. His journey is an epic of the soul, a battle against the conventions and injustices of the world. Each of his adventures, however seemingly mad, is a tribute to the purity of thought and loyalty.
Don Quixote teaches us to see beyond the visible, to find hope in the darkest moments, and to believe that with courage and pure heart, we can make the world a fairer and more wonderful place. His path is an invitation for all of us to dream, to fight for our ideals, and to never surrender, even when reality seems insurmountable.
For Cervantes, he represents the essence of the quest for truth, justice, and unconditional love. His journey is an epic of the soul, a battle against the conventions and injustices of the world. Each of his adventures, however seemingly mad, is a tribute to the purity of thought and loyalty.
Don Quixote teaches us to see beyond the visible, to find hope in the darkest moments, and to believe that with courage and pure heart, we can make the world a fairer and more wonderful place. His path is an invitation for all of us to dream, to fight for our ideals, and to never surrender, even when reality seems insurmountable.
Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616)
Born in 1547 in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, Miguel de Cervantes lived an adventurous and tumultuous life marked by experiences that shaped his imagination and indomitable spirit. As a young man, he fought in the Battle of Lepanto, where he was gravely wounded, losing the use of his left hand but earning the nickname "el manco de Lepanto" (the one-armed man of Lepanto). Captured by pirates and held prisoner in Algiers for five years, Cervantes never lost hope, continuing to dream and write. Upon returning to Spain, he faced poverty and hardship, yet his pen gave life to Don Quixote, an eternal symbol of courage and idealism.
The journey of Don Quixote and his author
Few know that Cervantes, in his youth, was a captive of pirates for five years, an experience that would shape his worldview. It is within this context of suffering and hope that his Don Quixote is born, a knight who, amidst his grandiose delusions, challenges the world with rusted armor and a heart of gold.
Don Quixote's journey is not just a chivalrous adventure but an inner quest for truth and justice. Every obstacle he encounters, every mad encounter, and every defeat brings him closer to understanding what truly matters in life. Through his exploits and fantasies, Cervantes teaches us that madness can reveal deeper truths and that the courage to dream can transform even the darkest prisons into worlds of wonder. Don Quixote stands as a symbol of humanity that dreams, fights, and perseveres despite challenges, inspiring generations to seek beauty and meaning even in the most unexpected places.
Don Quixote's journey is not just a chivalrous adventure but an inner quest for truth and justice. Every obstacle he encounters, every mad encounter, and every defeat brings him closer to understanding what truly matters in life. Through his exploits and fantasies, Cervantes teaches us that madness can reveal deeper truths and that the courage to dream can transform even the darkest prisons into worlds of wonder. Don Quixote stands as a symbol of humanity that dreams, fights, and perseveres despite challenges, inspiring generations to seek beauty and meaning even in the most unexpected places.
BUSTS
Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation
Established in the 1990s in Florence through the vision of an enlightened entrepreneur, its primary goal is to facilitate meetings and cultural exchanges among young people from different cultures and countries. The Foundation's motto, "For peace in the world, among young people from different countries, through Culture, meeting, knowing each other, understanding each other to develop friendship among peoples," reflects its commitment to promoting intercultural understanding and friendship between nations.
The Foundation actively promotes respect for the diversity of cultural expressions and works to develop friendships between people through a series of international initiatives. These meetings preferably take place in cultural venues or heritage sites, highlighting the importance of culture in building bridges between communities. The Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation operates on a non-profit basis, dedicating itself to the promotion and implementation of projects, research, publications, awards, and scholarships that promote dialogue between cultures. Its commitment to the "Heritage for Dialogue between Cultures" is reflected in its activities and programs, aiming to create a more inclusive and supportive world through culture and education.
Bust donations
Throughout its history, the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation has fostered bonds of friendship and gratitude with institutions, universities, and territories worldwide by donating Carrara statuary marble busts depicting significant figures of Italian culture and thought. Through these donations, the Foundation promotes the appreciation of culture and art, encouraging us all to find beauty, hope, and inspiration from these characters and their journeys.
The busts of Don Quixote around the world
Through the generous donation of busts crafted from fine Carrara white marble, the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation has strengthened bonds of friendship and collaboration with numerous Italian and international institutions, celebrating the value of Italian art and highlighting significant figures of World Heritage.
In addition to Pietrasanta, a smaller-sized bust dedicated to Don Quixote is also part of the permanent collection "The Human Family" exhibited at Palazzo Coppini in Florence (Italy), the headquarters of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation.
In addition to Pietrasanta, a smaller-sized bust dedicated to Don Quixote is also part of the permanent collection "The Human Family" exhibited at Palazzo Coppini in Florence (Italy), the headquarters of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation.
WORK
The bust and its author
Dino De Ranieri, a descendant of the renowned family of artists, shares his perspective on portrait art, believing that Figurative portrait is a greatly undervalued form of creative expression. For De Ranieri, only an artist who masters artistic techniques can breathe life into a portrait, capturing the depth and intensity of the artist's observation and thought.
"In 'La Meraviglia', I aimed to capture the moment when my Don Quixote glimpses the essence of truth, justice, pure thought, loyalty, and absolute love. This epiphanic moment transforms his life, making it more sustainable and filling him with wonder. The suffocating reality dissolves, allowing the imagination to break free and transform existence. With this work, I celebrate imagination, inviting you to rediscover beauty and hope even in the darkest moments, much like Don Quixote does in his extraordinary journey."
"In 'La Meraviglia', I aimed to capture the moment when my Don Quixote glimpses the essence of truth, justice, pure thought, loyalty, and absolute love. This epiphanic moment transforms his life, making it more sustainable and filling him with wonder. The suffocating reality dissolves, allowing the imagination to break free and transform existence. With this work, I celebrate imagination, inviting you to rediscover beauty and hope even in the darkest moments, much like Don Quixote does in his extraordinary journey."
PHOTO GALLERY
