Virgin of the Navigators – A painting in the altarpiece on display at the Casa de Contratación (House of Trade)
Virgin of the Navigators
The image shows an altarpiece on display at the Hall of Audiences in the Casa de Contratación (House of Trade) section of the Royal Alcázar in Seville, Spain.
In the center of the altarpiece is La Virgen de los Navegantes (Virgin of the Navigators), a masterpiece painted by the Spanish painter Alejo Fernández sometime between 1531 and 1536. As you can see, the Virgin Mary is up in the clouds looking down at the ships floating in the sea. Her mantle covers many famous seafarers, including Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci, and indigenous people of the Americas. Flanking the central painting are the portraits of St. Sebastian, St. James the Great, St. Elmo, and St. John the Evangelist.
Established in 1503 by Queen Isabella I of Castile, the Casa de Contratación (House of Contracting) was an organization (somewhat similar to the East India Companies) that controlled the trade in the Americas. Housed in the Royal Alcázar of Seville, the Casa de Contratación had broad powers, including the approval of voyages. The current Hall of Audiences was part of it and was a chapel once. The altarpiece shown in the image belonged to this chapel.
Related Images
– Hall of Audiences
– Model of Santa Maria in the Hall of Audiences
– Admiral’s room
Related Pages
– Seville Cathedral: An awe-inspiring architectural marvel
— Sala Capitular – The Chapter House of the Seville Cathedral
— Sacristía Mayor – The Main Sacristy of the Seville Cathedral
– La Giralda: A harmonious blend of Moorish and Renaissance architectural styles
Copyright © 2020 by Lawrence Rodrigues. All rights reserved.