COLUMBIAN HISTORICAL EXPOSITION AT MADRID. 



223 



Xo. 6. THE YANEZ PORTRAIT (page 221). 



In 1763 the Spanish Government purchased from Sefior N. Yanez, of Grenada, four 

 portraits those of Columbus, Lope, Cortez, and Quevedo all claiming to be genuine. 

 The portrait of Columbus was placed in the National Library, and was recognized 

 by all critics as bearing a close 

 resemblance to that by Altissimo, 

 at Florence. Artists who gave it 

 close study were satisfied that it 

 had been tampered with, and ob 

 tained permission to make ail 

 examination. On the upper mar 

 gin of the canvas were the words 

 &quot;Christof Columbus novi orbis 

 inventor.&quot; When subjected to a 

 chemical test tbis inscription 

 disappeared, and another was 

 found beneath it which read, 

 &quot;Columb Lygur novi orbis rep- 

 tor.&quot; Further investigation de 

 monstrated that the original had 

 been repainted, and by some in 

 ferior artist ; and upon the further 

 application of chemicals the flow 

 ing robe with a heavy fur collar, 

 &quot;more befitting a Muscovite than 

 a mariner/ as the investigators 

 said, vanished, leaving a simple 

 garb such as Columbus usually 

 wore, a closely fitting tunic and 

 a mantle folded across the breast. 

 The lines of the face were also changed and a new expression was disclosed. 



Carderera believes this to be a copy of the Giovio portrait, also painted in Italy, 

 perhaps that made by order of Cosmo di Medici, in 1552, or that made for the Princess 



Hippolyte. It is of the same size as 

 the Altissimo portrait at Florence, 

 and is painted upon poplar wood, 

 which was not used in Spain, al 

 though common in Italy. The style 

 is that of the Florentine school of 

 the middle of the sixteenth century, 

 and the horizontal plaiting of the 

 toga was in fashion at that date. 

 Its age is about the same as that of 

 the Altissimo picture, and the por 

 traits of Cortez, Lope, and Quevedo, 

 which were found Avith it, are 

 painted on poplar panels of the same 

 size, with the same materials, and 

 evidently by the same hand. De 

 Conches pronounces it the most 

 ancient portrait of Columbus that 

 exists, and Seiior Rios y Rios, a good 

 Spanish authority, maintains with 

 considerable circumstantial evi 

 dence that the Yanez is the long-lost and much-desired original of the Giovian col 

 lection. Sefior Montojo, of Madrid, insists that it formerly belonged to the Council 

 of the Indies at Seville, and was probably painted by an artist named Ibanez. 



THE CANCELLIERA. 

 See page 226. 



THE BELVEDERE. 

 See page 227. 



