London Drum

Jose Maria Velasco – A View Of Mexico at the National Gallery

Jose Maria Velasco: A View Of MexicoPhoto: nationalgallery.org.uk
Where? National Gallery, Trafalgar Square When? 29th March to 17th August 2025 10 AM to 6 PM (Mon-Thu, Sat-Sun); 10 AM to 9 PM (Fri) Price? From £12 · See nationalgallery.org Parking: Nearby car parks Buses: 3, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 24, 87, 91, 139, 176 Bus fares Trains: The closest station is Charing Cross Bakerloo Northern Other nearby stations: Covent Garden, Embankment, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus Train fares

The National Gallery will be putting on the first-ever UK exhibition of work by the celebrated Mexican artist José María Velasco. It will also mark the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries.

Vista de la fábrica de hilados La Carolina (Puebla)Photo: National Gallery of Prague
Vista de la fábrica de hilados La Carolina (Puebla), by José María Velasco

Velasco was one of the great 19th-century landscape painters and had a deep interest in his country's geology, archaeology, flora and fauna. He painted panoramic views of the Valley of Mexico and was particularly interested in its mountainous terrain and the effect of modernisation on its landscape... which eventually turned it into today's sprawling Mexico City.

The Valley of Mexico from the Hill of Santa IsabelPhoto: Museo Nacional de Arte
The Valley of Mexico from the Hill of Santa Isabel, by José María Velasco (1877)

Velasco operated during a time of tremendous social change and he recognised the creeping industrialisation by capturing the train lines and factories alongside the magnificent scenery of rocks, volcanoes and botanically accurate plants.

Despite enjoying great fame in his home country, today there are no paintings held in a UK public collection, and the last exhibition devoted entirely to him outside of his home country was back in 1976. This exhibition promises to be a great introduction to his work, and continues the National Gallery's aim of introducing UK audiences to non-European art.

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