The Valley of Mexico from the Hillside of Santa Isabel
José María Velasco. 1882 C.E. Oil on canvas
The Valley of Mexico from the Hillside of Santa Isabel represents an important period in the development of Mexico's national identity and an important chapter in the history of Mexican art. Velasco's landscapes became symbols of the nation as they represented Mexico in several World Fairs.
Artist: Jose María Velasco
Date: 1882
Medium: Oil on canvas
Movement: Realism
Context
· Velasco was an academic landscape painter, specializing in panoramas of the Valley of Mexico
· Velasco meticulously observed nature: rocks, foliage, clouds, waterfalls
· Rejected the realistic landscapes of Courbet and Romantic landscapes of Turner
Content
· Mountains, lake, trees, clouds, blue skies, tiny human figures
· All from the vantage point of the mountaintop village Guadalupe that looks over the Valley of Mexico
Form
· Atmospheric perspective and tiny human figures both create a sense of monumentality and awe of nature.
· Viewer stands above the mountains; looks down to survey the scene.
Function
· Showcases the rolling red hills, magnificent blue skies, puffy white clouds, the lake, trees, and natural beauty of the Valley of Mexico
· To glorify the Mexican countryside
