Don Quixote's countenance before and after losing his teeth.
The authors of this paper wish to draw attention to certain not-so-well-known aspects concerning the epithet "Knight of the Woeful Countenance", by which Cervantes' character Don Quixote is universally known. Cervantes used it to highlight the loss of his hero's molars and incisors; thus, the reduced vertical dimension of his face, along with his sagging cheeks and deepened facial furrows, was the reason for his permanently sorrowful countenance. Luis Martínez, a professional illustrator following instructions from the authors of this paper, has recreated the face of Don Quixote as Miguel de Cervantes may well have imagined it for his celebrated character.
del Valle
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A
Department of Clinical Dentistry, Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, C/Tulipán s/n., 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain. antonio.delvalle@urjc.es
Romero
M
M
D004644:Emotions; D005149:Facial Expression; D006801:Humans; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000473:pathology*; D014716:Vertical Dimension