Analysis Of John Vanderlyn's Painting The Landing Of Columbus

John Vanderlyn was commissioned by Congress in June 1836 to paint the Landing of Columbus for the Capitol Rotunda. The painting was placed in the Rotunda January 1847.1 Excitement and a sense of pride is shown in the painting by Christopher Columbus and his crew with the landing on newly found land. With Columbus landing in the West Indies, there were more chances of developing wealth.2 Sugar became one of the items that would produce great wealth, but it also caused a continuance of slavery. To produce the sugar for the sale, there was an increasing need for laborers. This meant many were brought into slavery that may have never witnessed it. From a modern view of the painting, it appears that Columbus and his crew have taken over the