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José María Velasco

JOSÉ MARÍA VELASCO

A View Of Mexico National Gallery London 29 March–17 August 2025 London
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Press Release

See the first UK exhibition of Mexico’s much-loved artist, José María Velasco. Velasco, working in Mexico in the 19th century, was a man of many interests. He was fascinated by advances in geology, the archaeology of his home country, the study of local flora, and the increasing presence of industrialisation.

He painted the sweeping landscapes of the Valley of Mexico, the home of modern-day Mexico City, with exquisite detail. His impressive panoramic views of the valley reveal allusions to Mexico’s historic past and its rapidly modernising present.

Velasco was keenly aware of his country’s industrialisation, capturing expanding train lines and factories alongside botanically accurate studies of plants. His scientific eye inspired his art, and his love of geology is clear to see in his detailed depictions of rocks and volcanoes.

This exhibition, the first-ever dedicated to a Latin American artist at the National Gallery, marks the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the UK. And it celebrates Velasco’s place among the great 19th-century landscape painters.

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About the Gallery

The National Gallery is one of London’s most significant cultural institutions, situated at the heart of Trafalgar Square. Renowned for its grand neoclassical façade and free public access, it houses a world-class collection of over 2,300 paintings spanning seven centuries—from the late Middle Ages to the early 20th century. For visitors interested in the roots of contemporary visual culture, it offers unparalleled insight into the artistic lineage that shapes today’s global art landscape.

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Address
Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
London
United Kingdom
Opening Hours
Daily
10am – 6pm
Friday until 9pm
Closed 24–26 December and 1 January
(1)
London Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
National Gallery London contemporary art institution in London United Kingdom
National Gallery London
Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN, London, United Kingdom
+44 20 7747 2885
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Opening hours
Daily
10am – 6pm
Friday until 9pm
Closed 24–26 December and 1 January
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