Johann Moritz Rugendas

Rugendas (1802-1858) was born in Augsburg, Germany, into the seventh generation of a family of noted painters and engravers of Augsburg.
Inspired by the artistic work of Thomas Ender (1793–1875) and the travel accounts in the tropics by Austrian naturalists, Rugendas arrived in Brazil in 1821, where he was soon hired as an illustrator for his first scientific expedition.

 

I should and wanted to be the illustrator of the continent newly discovered by Columbus,

I wanted to show the world what picturesque treasures the tropical world offers since only few organizations are allowed to follow the troublesome career.

I felt called upon to be the pilot of the arts on a field others will then present exhaustingly. (Johann Moritz Rugendas to Alexander von Humboldt)

He began to use oil painting in a new way, oil sketch painting. So Rugendas came early to impresionist painters, only Turner as precedent.

En esta historia novelada con tintes de realismo mágico, el autor muestra al protagonista, Rugendas, el pintor aventurero de la naturaleza, con una necesidad de pintar para reflejar lo vivido, la impresión, la sensación, que se impone a todo lo demás.