Columbus in the New World 1906

Edwin Austin Abbey made this painting of Columbus in the New World probably sometime in the late 1800's using oils on canvas, and it's got a real pre-Raphaelite vibe. The palette is rich, but it’s also kind of muted, like a memory. What's fascinating is how Abbey handles the material. The paint isn't trying to hide itself here, it's not glossy and smooth, it’s right there on the surface. Look at the way he’s dabbed and swirled the paint in the sky above the figures. There are so many tiny marks up there, all kind of scumbled together, it looks like the air itself is in motion! There's a real interest in historical costume here - you could say Abbey is a little like Alma Tadema, but his brushwork is a lot looser. And maybe that's the point, he's not just showing off with perfect detail; he's more interested in capturing the feeling of the moment, this kind of… grand, weighty, historical feeling. With all the good and bad that comes with it. The painting invites us to reflect on how history is constructed.