A STRONG-JAWED LIGURIAN VISIONARY SEEING HIS DREAM WITH DETERMINED INTENSITY THROUGH THE REALITIES OF THE WORLD.
Legend:Background is ancient map including "boot" of Italy (upper left) and "compass rose" (upper right). Mid right is Queen Isabella who financed Columbus' voyage to America. Upon his success she bestowed upon him the Coat of Arms (lower left). "Xpo FERENS" to left of Columbus is signature that Columbus used, half Greek and half Latin meaning Christ-bearer. At lower right on border is wood cut of "Santa Maria". Border itself is adaptation of authentic design used on clothing of the times. Columbua died in Valladolid, Spain, in May 20, 1506.
Legend: Bottom words engraved on his tombstone in Spain. Map of the Old World (left shoulder) and the New World (right shoulder) is indicated as part of his cloak. Forever the Admiral of the Ocean Sea.
A PORTRAIT OF A BOLD, STRONG MAN OF VISION WHO SET THE STAGE FOR THOSE WHO WOULD FOLOW HIS EXAMPLE. BORN IN VENICE IN 1254, HE LEFT ITALY AS A YOUTH AND RETURNED TWENTY YEARS LATER AS A MAN OF THE RENAISSANCE.
Legend: The arch that creates his frame is the arch around the door to Marco Polo's home, which is still standing in Venice. Upper left is his Coat of Arms. The background is ancient map of Venice indicating the birthplace of Polo. Left center is the Kublai Kahn. Left bottom, coin of King Hetuma and his Queen Isabel, of Armenia Minor (petite Hermanie). Bottom Marco Polo and Kublai Kahn leading Mongol soldiers in a victorious attack against the Moslems. Bottom right is Pope Gregory X. Above him, is Moslem zealot Ben Youseff.
15? -1611 LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT HIS EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY BUT RECORDS REVEAL THAT HENRY HUDSON WAS MASTER OF A SMALL VESSEL IN SERVICE OF THE MUSCOVY COMPANY WHEN HE FORMULATED PLANS FOR ARCTIC EXPLORATION. HE LIVED IN LONDON WITH HIS WIFE, KATHERINE, AND THEY HAD THREE SONS, OLIVER, JOHN AND RICHARD. SON JOHN, A COMPANION ON HIS VOYAGES, WENT WITH HIM TO HIS MARTYRDOM.
Legend: Left border is son John a boy of eleven on his first voyage (1607). Bottom left are two mermaids sighted, according to his journal. Center Serafim giving blessing to charts of Hudson over Coat of Arms. Center background Ice-tipped mountains of Newfoundland. Bottom right Saint Ethelburga's church in Bishopsgate London, where Hudson and crew went for blessing. Upper right background Hudson's ship "Half Moon" coming into Hudson Bay.
A MAN DARING TO FORGE INTO THE UNKNOWN, TO BE THE FIRST EXPLORER TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE GLOBE, PROVING THE WORLD WAS ROUND
Legend: The frame is from Antonio Pifgetta's log (journal of Magellan's journey). Upper left is Magellan Coat of Arms. Along the right side is mast and rigging of his ship with "St. Elmo's Fire" - (electrical phenomenon that occurs at equinoctial line as storm appears). Coin overlapping rigging is one that glorifies "Lapulapu", Philippine native who resisted European seamen and slew Magellan. Lower center, old print of shark. Bottom in frame is signature of Magellan and to left, world globe depicting famous voyage (1519 1522), Above is wooden statue of Christ Child, still existent, which in 1520 was given to Princess of Cebu.
BORN 1475 DISCOVERER OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN A VIBRANT, ENERGETIC, REDHEADED MAN OF IRON. BEGAN HIS CAREER OF EXPLORATION BY STOWING AWAY ABORAD CAPTAIN ENSISCO'S SHIP ENROUTE TO "TERRA FIRMA". BECAUSE OF HIS REPUTATION AS A SWORDSMAN AND A WARRIOR, HE WAS ALLOWED TO JOIN THE CREW RATHER THAN BE PUT ASHORE.
Legend: At upper left is a border design with the Balboa Coat of Arms. Mid-left background, is Governor Davila who ultimately had Balboa beheaded at the age of forty-five. Mid-left foreground is a "Careta" Indian Princess who married Balboa. Lower-left is antique map depicting the Pacific Ocean, and to the right, Panama coin minted in Balboa's honor. Center bottom is "Leoncicco", Balboa's warrior dog who accompanied him on his exploration. Bottom right, Balboa claiming the Pacific Ocean in the name of the King and Queen of Spain.
CONQUISTADOR AND EXPLORER OF MEXICO (1520) A DETERMINED CORTES FORGED THROUGH COUNTLESS MILES OF ROUGH TERRAIN TO CHALLENGE THE GREAT AZTEC LEADER MONTEZUMA. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF INTERPRETER "MALINALLI" DAUGHTER OF A TRIBAL LEADRE, HE AND HIS MEN BECAME AND UNBEATABLE FORCE.
Legend: Upper right is carved breast plate. Just below, Montezuma in tribal finery. Lower right, Cortes is mounted upon his dark chestnut horse beside one of the dogs that be brought with him. Center, below Cortes is his interpreter and mistress "Malinalli" who bore him a child. Bottom left is Cortes' Coat of Arms.
PICTURED IN FUR, AND PROUDLY DISPLAYING AROUND HIS NECK, THE "MILITARY ORDER OF CHRIST" BESTOWED UPON HIM BY DON MANUEL, KING OF PORTUGAL, WHO ALSO GAVE HIM COAT OF ARMS DEPICTED IN LOWER RIGHT BORDER.
Legend: In mid-section of painting, Da Gamas' ship, the St. Gabriel (one of three that sailed to India). Top right and left are Indian Elephants. Directly under left elephant is the "Zamorin", then ruler of India (shown wearing fine silks, gold and gems). Under him is an Indian lady wearing her wealth, and left bottom is a snake charmer with a five foot cobra. In his early fifties, Da Gama was made Viceroy of India. He died on Christmas Eve, 1524 in Cochin.
ENERGETIC, AMBITIOUS, AND MULTI-FACETED, QUEEN ISABELLA IS PICTURED FULL FACED AND IN SHADOWS WITH HER "FAVORITE CASTLE" IN SEGOVIA. WITH CHURCH DISPENSATION, MARRIED SIXTEEN YEAR OLD COUSIN FERDINAND WHEN SHE WAS SEVENTEEN. CREATED STRONG ALLIANCE OF QUEEN ISABELLA OF CASTILE AND KING FERDINAND OF ARAGON.
Legend: Upper left and right are crosses indicating her strong Catholic faith. Lower left is wooden stature of Queen Isabella. She replaced corrupt clergy with educated and devout. The Coat of Arms is of Aragon and Castile. To the right is new currency she created. Bottom right, Queen Isabella riding horseback, as she was known to do, to meet and cheer her troops at the front, in their war against the Moors in 1482. Queen Isabella died November 26, 1504.
BORN IN FLORENCE, MARCH 18, 1454 VESPUCCI WAS A SUCCESSFUL MERCHANT WH TRAVELED TO SPAIN IN PURSUIT OF HIS FASCINATION FOR ASTRONOMY AND CARTOGRAPHY. IT WAS HIS STUDY OF AMERICA'S COASTLINE DURING HIS VOYAGES (1497-1503) THAT GAVE THE FIRST CLUES THAT IT WAS A CONTINENT AND NOT THE INDIES. WHEN MAP MAKER "WALDESMULLER" RECEIVED VESPUCCI'S FINDINGS, HE REFERRED TO THE AREA AS AMERIGO'S OR LATER AMERICA.
Legend: Upper right and center background southern celestial map. Lower left to right astrolabe, divider, signature, Coat of Arms, Maltese cross from "Knights of Malta" (Amerigo's younger brother "Girulamo" was founder). Upper right Boticelli's "Birth of Venus" (Vespucci's cousin Marco's wife, Simonetta, was Botticelli's model).
OF NOBLE BIRTH, PONCE DE LEON WAS NOTED FOR BEING THE EARLIEST PORTO-RICAN HOMESTEADER AND WENT ON TO DISCOVER FLORIDA ON APRIL 2, 1513. BECAUSE OF HIS SEARCH FOR THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, HE WAS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE FIRST "DON QUIXOTE".
Legend: Upper left is one of his crew dipping into what might be the Fountain of Youth. Lower left is an older Juan Ponce De Leon in his quest for the fountain, with another crewman wading in the water. Lower center is the signature of Ponce De Leon with his Coat of Arms to its right. Lower right Peter Martyr's map of 1511 with Peter martyr directly above. Ponce De Leon perished in 1521 from a Carib's poisoned arrow.
PICTURED TOGETHER, THIS FATHER AND SON GENOESE TEAM WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE KING OF ENGLAN TO SAIL ON THE MATTHEW, WHICH LEFT BRISTOL, MAY 1497. FATHER AND SON SAILED ON THIS FIRST VOYAGE AND DISCOVERED NEWFOUNDLAND. IT WAS ON THEIR SECOND VOYAGE THAT THEY ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS STORMS AND THE OLDER CABOT WAS NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN.
Legend: On top left is rib of whale (only remaining relic) in St. Mary Redcliffe Church. Following below is Cabot Memorial Tower, then tablet on St Augustine's Bridge in Bristol. From to-right is their Coat of Arms, the ship Matthew, at landfall Newfoundland. Below: Their signatures.
