Christopher Columbus before the Council of Salamanca c. 1876

William Merritt Chase made this oil on canvas painting depicting Christopher Columbus before the Council of Salamanca. Chase was an American artist, and it's useful to know that this painting was made at a time of unprecedented industrial and urban expansion in the United States. Columbus is shown here appealing to the council to fund his voyage. Columbus’s impassioned stance contrasts with the traditional, academic dress of the council. The globe at the front of the painting symbolizes the geographical knowledge of the time and implicitly refers to the 'New World' that Columbus would discover. Columbus’s legacy has always been disputed, even in the late 19th century. Historians engage with images like this using primary source documents from the period, like letters, journals, or official records, to challenge, confirm, or develop their interpretations. Ultimately, the meaning of an artwork depends on its historical and institutional context.