Study for "The Landing of Columbus on San Salvador, October 12, 1492": Roderigo Sánchez of Segovia
John Vanderlyn
ca. 1840–43 · Charcoal and white chalk (lightly affixed) on light gray laid paper · The American Wing
Vanderlyn made numerous figure and costume studies for his monumental painting “The Landing of Columbus on San Salvador, October 12, 1492,” executed in Paris in 1839-46 for the United States Capitol. Vanderlyn relied primarily on Washington’s Irving’s biography of Columbus for the cast of characters he assembled in his painting. In Irving’s history, Roderigo Sanchez is identified as the controller, or accountant, of the 1492 voyage, and in the painting is shown behind Columbus in a large hat and cloak, thoughtfully appraising the strange New World.
- Artist
- John Vanderlyn
- Date
- ca. 1840–43
- Medium
- Charcoal and white chalk (lightly affixed) on light gray laid paper
- Culture
- American
- Department
- The American Wing
- Credit line
- Morris K. Jesup Fund, 1989
