Focus on Columbus Murals and discuss the Description.
The murals are each 11 feet (3.4 m) tall, ranging in width from 5.5 to 19 feet (1.7 to 5.8 m). They are all located in a hallway south of the central rotunda of the Main Building. The twelve paintings are:
Christopher Columbus, Discoverer or Christopher Columbus, Explorer—It shows Columbus standing tall next to a globe, in an akimbo posture with his hand on his hip, suggesting importance and influence. He points to North America on the globe, although he never recognized that he had landed on the continent.
Isabella the Catholic, Protectress of Columbus
Columbus at the Gate of the Convent of La Rabida
Father Perez Blesses Columbus before He Embarks—It depicts Juan Pérez with Columbus before departure from Palos de la Frontera.
The Mutiny at Sea
Discovery of Land, Friday, October 12, 1492 or Sighting of Land, Friday, October 12, 1492
Taking Possession of the New World or Columbus Coming Ashore
Return of Columbus and Reception at Court
Bobadilla Betrays Columbus—Francisco de Bobadilla in Columbus' cottage
Death of Columbus, Valladolid, May 20, 1506
Father Diego de Deza, Protector of Columbus at Salamanca—It depicts Diego de Deza, the son of Ferdinand and Isabella, who helped Columbus gain access to them.
Luis de Santangel, Treasurer of Aragon—Luis de Santángel helped Columbus secure funding for his voyage.The murals portray Columbus in a saintly light, and Gregori painted scenes showing Columbus as doing God's work. The Reception at Court depicts Columbus presenting treasures of the New World to King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of Spain: pineapples, nuts, spices, gold figurines, a parrot, as well as several Taíno people. The presence of a large number of clergy indicates that the natives are to be baptized. A large crowd watches behind them, and in the background is a fleet of ships.There are numerous historical inaccuracies in the murals. In The Reception at Court, for example, the natives are depicted holding shields which northern Plains Indians would use and wearing Mandan clothes, whereas Columbus actually encountered the Taíno of the Caribbean. The inaccuracies are attributed to a combination of ignorance (at the time, Native Americans were seen as a monolithic group, rather than a diverse group of tribes) and intentional symbolism (Notre Dame's founding Holy Cross missionaries encountered Plains Natives). Furthermore, Gregori may have drawn inspiration from Notre Dame's own collection of artifacts.
Francisco de Bobadilla King Ferdinand II Caribbean Luis de Santángel Palos de la Frontera Plains Indians Main Building Queen Isabella I Isabella the Catholic Taíno Juan Pérez Diego de Deza Mandan mural baptized akimbo Christopher Columbus