A Favorite Painter

One of my favorite Mexican artists is the 19th century landscape painter, José María Velasco (1840 - 1012).  In his lifetime he was internationally famous, and his paintings won medals at the Philadelphia International Exhibition in 1876 and the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1889.  His large scale canvasses of Mexican geography became a symbol of national identity.

Currently at the Kaluz Museum in downtown Mexico City there is an exhibition called "The Garden of Velasco".

The exhibit focuses on the scientific side of Velasco's work.  In addition to painting, he studied zoology, geology, and botany.   His interest in the natural sciences is evident in the detail of his landscapes.

"Hacienda of Monte Blanco, Veracruz"

1877

Velasco did this painting in collaboration with his teacher Eugenio Landesio.

In the background you can see Orizaba, Mexico's highest peak.

Untitled

1911

"View of Chapultepec"

1883

"The Cypress of the Sad Night"

1885

According to tradition, it was under this tree that the Spanish conquistador, Hernán Cortés, sat and wept after his army had suffered heavy losses during their retreat from the Aztec capital.

"The Church of St. Sebastian"

1880

The church is nearly hidden by the trees.

"The Forest of Pacho"

1875

"The Volcano Orizaba from the Hacienda of San Miguelito"

1892

"The Valley of Mexico"

1885

To the left you can see Chapultepec Castle, which in those days was outside of the city.  Beyond that is Mexico City, and on the horizon the two snow-covered volcanoes, Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl.

"The Valley of Mexico from the Peak of Santa Isabel"

1884

You can see how much of the valley used to covered with lakes.

"The Lagoon of Santa Isabel from the Peak of Tepeyac"

1878

"The Valley of Mexico from the Guadalupe Mountains"

1901

More from the Velasco exhibit in the next post...