Wilkie, David “Columbus Propounding His Theory of the New World..."

David Wilkie.  “Columbus Propounding His Theory of the New World. Presented to the Albion Subscribers New York, 1852.”  [in the Convent of La Rábida, Spain ]. 

New York: Albion, 1852.  17 X 23 (image).  Engraving by A. Ritchie.  Very good condition.

In 1486, Columbus petitioned King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to Finance a voyage to America.  It was not until 1492 that he successfully achieved the financing but only with the help of the Spanish treasurer, Luis de Santángel, and of the Franciscan friars of La Rábida, with whom Columbus had stayed in the summer of 1491. Juan Pérez of La Rábida had been one of the queen’s confessors and it is assumed that he was able to procure the needed interview with the monarchs.