Artwork
Explosión de una locomotora
Explosión de una locomotora is an oil painting by Genaro Pérez Villaamil. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1840 by Spanish Romantic painter Genaro Pérez Villaamil, Explosión de una locomotora is an oil on canvas that captures a sudden, violent blaze surrounding a locomotive. The work is part of the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires and exemplifies the artist’s penchant for dramatic, narrative landscapes populated with human figures.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a locomotive consumed by bright orange‑yellow flames, its fire spilling onto nearby structures. Figures in the foreground scramble to flee, some clutching belongings, while others lie motionless or glance back in alarm. The scene conveys the precariousness of industrial progress and the human vulnerability it engenders.
Technique & Style
Villaamil employs strong chiaroscuro, contrasting the luminous fire against a dark, smoky sky to heighten tension. The brushwork renders the blaze with vigorous, gestural strokes, while the surrounding architecture is rendered with exaggerated scale, a hallmark of Romantic dramatization. The palette is dominated by warm reds and yellows set against deep shadows.
History & Provenance
Painted during the height of Villaamil’s career, the work reflects his interest in combining landscape, architecture, and narrative drama. After remaining in private hands for several decades, the canvas entered the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s 19th‑century European collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jenaro Pérez de Villaamil y d'Huguet (3 February 1807 – 5 June 1854) was a Spanish painter in the Romantic style who specialized in landscapes with figures and architectural scenes.
Museum
National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina
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