Broadside with 48 scenes relating to the life of General D. Baldomero Espartero
1862
Medium
Wood engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 17 3/16 x 12 5/8 in. (43.7 x 32.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Max G. Wildnauer Fund, 1978
Accession Number
1978.643.25
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking wood engraving broadside, created by Spanish artist Juan Llorens in 1862, captures the life of General Baldomero Espartero through 48 intricate vignettes. Espartero, a pivotal figure in 19th-century Spain, rose to fame as a liberal military leader during the Carlist Wars (1833–1840), where he defended Queen Isabella II against absolutist rebels. He later served as regent (1840–1843) and prime minister, embodying progressive ideals amid Spain's turbulent political landscape. Printed on a modest sheet measuring 17 3/16 x 12 5/8 inches, this work served as affordable, mass-produced ...