Explosion de la Yglesia de Sta. Engracia

Original antique engraving depicting the explosion of the church of Santa Engracia in Zaragoza, drawn by Fernando Brambila and engraved by Juan Gálvez, published in Cádiz in 1814. The scene shows the dramatic moment of the temple’s destruction during the Sieges of Zaragoza in the Peninsular War. The church of Santa Engracia, located in the historic center of Zaragoza, was blown up by Napoleonic troops on August 14, 1808, to prevent it from serving as a refuge for Spanish defenders. The explosion destroyed much of the Renaissance building and caused numerous casualties among the civilian population who had taken shelter inside. Fernando Brambila was a Spanish painter and engraver who accompanied scientific expeditions and documented scenes from the war against France. Juan Gálvez, an engraver active in Cádiz in the early decades of the 19th century, collaborated on numerous publications about the Peninsular War. This engraving is part of a series documenting the most notable episodes of Spanish resistance. Technique: copper engraving.