The Virgin of the Navigators

Why it's great

The Virgin Mary spreads her cloak over sailors, explorers and ships in an altarpiece painted for the Spanish House of Trade in Seville in about 1535. Christopher Columbus is thought to appear among the kneeling figures, and it is one of the first paintings to show the Americas.

🏛️ Part of history

Columbus & the Age of Discovery (1492–1600) — The Virgin Mary spreads her cloak over sailors, explorers and ships in an altarpiece painted for the Spanish House of Trade in Seville in about 1535.

Where to see it

📍 Location not recordedWe couldn't confirm where it hangs today. Museums sometimes move or lend paintings, so check the museum's website before you travel.

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 976 × 1,624 px · 1.6 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

Alejo Fernández

1470–1543 · born in Córdoba · died in Seville

Alejo Fernández was a Spanish painter born in Córdoba around 1470 who worked mostly in Seville. He painted altarpieces in a style that mixed Gothic and Renaissance, including a famous picture of the Virgin of the Navigators. He died in Seville in 1545.