Hernando De Soto Analysis

This piece of art was commission in 1853 and hung in 1855. The painting captures Hernando De Soto, the Spanish conquistador and explorer, riding in on a white horse symbolizing victory, in the finest of attire in the brightness of the picture. The painting depicts his discovery of the Mississippi River as he and troops approach the river and the Natives that are camped in front of it. As De Soto moves towards the Natives, who are in front of their teepees, the chief extends a seemly piece offering a piece pipe to him. This picture further tells a deeper story as you look at the darker part of it. There are cannons, weapons, and injured men. There is someone praying as a cross is being into the ground, indicating there was a battle for

what initially is called a victory. Therefore, for allegedly discovering the Mississippi, he had a fight for this discovery. This painting shows the submission of the Native tribes and how religion played a part coupled with the forces in a battle was the mindset of many in the conquest in the New World. During the time of history when this painting was completed was the Mexican-American War and the United States gained over 500,000 square miles of land in the war. Which possibly invoked the American ambition for discovery, the desire for expansion, and the will to conquest. The artist successfully communicates the context of the painting by illustrating the joy of De Soto and his men in reaching what they set out to do and plainly shows anyone who views it how proud he was for the discovery and the victory.