Artist:

John Vanderlyn, born Kingston, NY 1775-died Kingston, NY 1852  Search this

Sitter:

Christopher Columbus  Search this

Medium:

oil on canvas

Dimensions:

27 3/8 x 40 1/4 in. (69.5 x 102.3 cm)

Type:

Painting

Date:

ca. 1840

Luce Center Label:

This painting is an oil sketch for the Landing of Columbus in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol. Winning a commission from Congress meant a great deal to nineteenth-century artists because, as well as ensuring their reputation, it allowed them to play a part in shaping the nation's history. This painting shows the moment, on October 12, 1492, when Columbus and his men landed on the island of San Salvador and claimed all of the New World for Spain. John Vanderlyn spent a great deal of time working on this piece, and even traveled to the West Indies to make sure every detail of his painting was accurate. (Schoonmaker, John Vanderlyn, Artist, 1775-1852; A Biography, 1950)

Luce Object Quote:

"My picture in the Rotunda is admitted to be inferior to none, if not superior." The artist, 1839, quoted in Schoonmaker, John Vanderlyn, Artist, 1775-1852; A Biography, 1950

Topic:

Figure group  Search this

Waterscape\boat  Search this

Indian  Search this

Occupation\other\explorer  Search this

History\United States\discovery of United States  Search this

Portrait male  Search this

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of I. Austin Kelly III

Object number:

1971.5

Restrictions & Rights:

CC0

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Painting and Sculpture

On View:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, 7A

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk726109d39-2805-48dd-a081-cf4663ae315c

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_1971.5