Description

Engraving depicting Christopher Columbus standing on the deck of a ship holding a banner depicting Christ on the cross. The goddess Diana is to the left of the ship, leading the ship forward with ropes tied to the prow. Beyond her are two naked female figures. The god Poseidon is to the right of the ship, and he is holding a trident and being pulled on a chariot by four sea horses. Also on the right side of the ship are two Tritons blowing on shell horns. Distant islands appear in map-like projections in the background of the ship, and the ocean is teeming with sea monsters.

This image is from the Americae Retectio, a series of four plates commemorating the so-called discovery of the American continent by Christopher Columbus, Americus Vespucci and Ferdinand Magellan.

Text along the bottom of the page reads "Christophorus Columbus Ligur terroribus Oceani superatis alterius pene Orbis regiones à se inventas Hispanis regibus addixit. An Salutis [infinity symbol]/ VIIID."