Columbus Landing in America (8 original drawings)

N.p., N.d.. With ALS from Sir Frederick Leighton, President of the Royal Academy. [ca. 1840's or 1850's ?]. A series of 8 oblong folio original pen-and-ink drawings and 7 preliminary pencil sketches for "Columbus Landing in America." 9 x 14 3/4". The drawings are accompanied by an ALS to Martin from Frederick Leighton (later President of the Royal Academy), "Aug. 30," no year [1849?]. Leighton writes on the envelope "to Charles Martin about the 8 drawings of 'The Landing of Columbus.' He says he will forward them to Mr. Boursin [?] "...first thanking you for allowing me to see them and congratulating you on their very considerable merit - there is about them an amount of picturesqueness and character together with simplicity of action which is very unusual. I am just off; first to the North & then to Spain - wishing you a pleasant time in America." In blue morocco-backed cloth folding case. The drawings together to form a panorama, each panel showing a number of figures. Drawing No. 1 shows Columbus on shore with five figures carrying standards of various sorts. Columbus is holding a large flag and raising his sword high over his head. One of his ships stands off shore. The following drawing show 43 of his men in various forms of dress, many in tatters, and all carrying something; halberds, amphoras, various utensils, etc. One rather ragged man is on his knees holding his beads. On No. 5 is written: "The Landing of Columbus. The military followers with the cannon and ammunition; a 'holy-water sprinkler' and other offensive arms of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries."

Charles Martin resided in the United States from 1849 - 1853 where he executed more than 500 portraits of well-known persons. He enjoyed the warm friendship of Henry Longfellow, N.P. Willis, Washington Irving, and other celebrated people. In England he painted portraits from life of Charles Dickens, Disraeli, J.M.W. Turner and many other well-known personages, including a memorial portrait of Thackeray. He was the son of John Martin, celebrated painter of biblical subjects and illustrator of Milton's "Paradise Lost." In 1834, at age 14, he exhibited his first portrait at the Royal Academy, and continued exhibiting there to the end of his life. In 1838 young Martin assisted his father with the portraits in his historical picture of the Coronation of Queen Victoria. His oil painting "De Soto Crossing the Mississippi at Baton Rouge" sold for $17,000 in 2003. See Benezt, "Who Was Who in American Art, Malet, and Groce & Wallace. .