Bedroom

The bed, as was the custom of the time, is placed in a small alcove, with its canopy, very necessary to keep warm, especially in a city as cold as Valladolid and so near the river.

Included in her dowry, Cervantes’ wife brought with her "a bed canopy, of coloured anjou cloth". The family documents also mention the essential warming pan and various mattresses, "of wool and flock": it was normal to put various thin mattresses one on top of the other rather than a single thick one. These documents also mention linen pillows (these were also used piled up), two of them with "strips of lace" coverlets and blankets…

Although bedside tables as such did not exist, in the paintings of the time chests or small tables can be seen beside the beds, where the essential night candle or oil lamp could be placed, and also a chair for leaving clothes. His night prayers would have been to ask for the protection of St Francis - he was later to become a Brother of the Third Order- who appears represented in a modest 17th century Spanish painting.Salto de línea