Christopher Columbus Before the Council of Salamanca

Why it's great

Columbus argues his plan to sail west before a council of scholars and clergy in Spain. Emanuel Leutze, born in Germany and raised in America, painted this in his twenties. Columbus's plan was met with doubt. It's a dramatic moment in a famous story.

🏛️ Part of history

Columbus & the Age of Discovery (1492–1600) — Columbus argues his plan to sail west before skeptical scholars.

Where to see it

📍 Louvre PalaceParis, France

Open in Maps ↗

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 1,500 × 1,159 px · 1.7 megapixels This is the largest scan on Wikimedia Commons, which is fairly small for a big print. The museum that owns it may offer a larger one. File page & license ↗

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

💵 Budget Etsy ↗ Posters and simple prints from small sellers, usually the lowest prices. 🖼️ Mid-range Fine Art America ↗ Good printing on paper, canvas or metal, made to order, with framing options. 🏛️ High-end Meisterdrucke ↗ Museum-grade giclée prints on archival paper or canvas, the closest to the real thing.

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

About the artist

Emanuel Leutze

1816–1868 · born in Schwäbisch Gmünd · died in Washington, D.C.

Emanuel Leutze was born in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany, and moved to the United States as a child. He later studied in Düsseldorf, Germany, and lived there for years while painting American history scenes. He returned to the U.S. in 1859 and worked in Washington, D.C. His painting of Washington crossing the Delaware became a national icon.