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Secondary sourcePainting

Columbus Admonishes His Men

Cassé

A later print showing Columbus rebuking his sailors during the first voyage, when fear and loss of courage threatened the expedition.

This later print depicts Columbus confronting his fearful crew during his first transatlantic voyage.

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Colored print of a ship's deck scene. A bearded man in a blue cloak over an orange tunic stands center, one arm raised and pointing. Around him sailors crowd in, some drawing swords and grappling, and a kneeling man in a tan robe is held by others on the right.
Cassé, Columbus admonishes his men. Wellcome Collection, United Kingdom.

About this source

What it is

This colored print by Cassé shows Christopher Columbus on the deck of his ship, pointing and addressing his sailors, some of whom are drawing swords amid a tense confrontation. The caption, in French and Spanish, explains that after losing sight of the Canary Islands, the Spanish sailors lost courage. It is held by the Wellcome Collection.

Why it matters

Though made well after Columbus's time, this print reflects a popular legend about the hardships of the 1492 voyage — the crew's fear of sailing into the unknown. It shows how Columbus was later portrayed as a determined leader facing down mutiny and doubt.

Look closer

  • What does the artist's choice to show drawn swords suggest about the mood on board?
  • Why might this story of courage versus fear have been popular to retell later?
  • How can we tell this scene was imagined rather than recorded at the time?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Christopher Columbus on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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