National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-23
SOME HISTORICAL FACTS.
Theodore Kaufmann's Columbus Before the
Council Of Salamanca"

MARCH 20, 1875.
To the Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: This interesting painting, for some time
on exhibition In the old Hall Of Representatives,
is now In the Corcoran Art Gallery. 1t has at
tracted and is attracting much attention from the
peculiar interest Of the subject and the artistic
merit of the work. 1t is not with the latter that
i have TO do, but with the question whether the
artist, in an attempt at historical painting, has
confined himself or not to historical truth. In
the foreground Of the painting he represents the
discoverer in q dignifed and calm attitude, con-
fronting three excited, gestIculating monks, in
an approach to the wellknoWn Dominican Co.'S
tune. He thereby proposes to contrast knowl-
edge and intellectual selEconfdence with ig-
nOranee and bigotry, and unintentionally, am
charitabIy disposed to believe, contributes to
bring odium on a religious Order which on that
occasion, at least, deserves no such treatment.
IT. therefore, Mr.. Kaufman intended to repre-
sent these noisy and declsmstory opponents of
Columbus as the members Of the Order of St.
Dominic, the following from a Catholic and non
Catholic source will, in the opinion of every fair
mind, go lar to contradict the assertion or infer
ence:
Roselly De Lorgues, in "The Life OF Chris
topher Columbus, from authentic Spanish and
Italian documents, and introduced TO the Amer
lean public by ]. J. Barry, NJ. D., 1852" informs
US that the council or junta met in November,
1886 1t was in the halls of the convent Of St.
stephen that the scientific junta met.
The discussion was too long. and touched on too
many Incidental questions to be promptly ter
minated. These conferences IA secret reunion of
the Council) occupied some time, during " hch Co.
lumbus was the guest of the convent of St
Stephen. The Dominicans provided for all his
wants, entertained him generously, and even de.
trsyed his travelling expenses. Even to this day
this community takes no small degree of honor to
itself for the hospitality so worthly extended to
the messenger OF Providence. then comparatively
His noble attitude before the Council was not
forgotten. Many among the assembly became
theology in the College of st. Stephen, the Do
minican Diego de DeZa, took his defence and
gained to his cause the first masters Of the uni
versity.
Washington Irving in his " Life of Columbus"
remarks: " 1t 1.-THE COuncil) was held in the Do.
minican Convent Of st. Stephen, IN which he
tality during the course Of the examination.
Among the number who were convinced by the
reasoning and warmed by the eloquence OF Co.
lumbus was Diego de DeZs, worthy and learned
irtar Of the Order of St. Dominic, at that time
professor of theology in the Convent of st. Ste
pheD but who became afterward Archbishop of
Seville, the second ecclesiastical dignity of Spain
He was not mere passive auditor: he took a
general interest II the cause, and by seeondlng
zeal Of his more bigoted brethren, so as to obtain
for him dispassionate If not unpreJudiced hear
ing. By their united efforts, IL Is said, they
brought over the most learned men OF the SCHOOL,
do not propose to go into an apology for the
conduct and acts OF that junta, however unfair It
may be to condemn the learned ofthe fifteenth GEN.
fury from the more enlightened standpoint, II you
so choose to call It, Of the nineteenth. / merely
seek to show that the Dominican Order, like that
OF the Franciscans. (the fast friends and first
patrons Of Columbus, the Prior Of La Ralida AZ
the head,) contributed early and persevsrinEly
to the discovery Of this our Western Hemisphere.
And so II is Historically incorrect and unbecom.
Ing, particularly in IN American artist, TO on.
courage the vulgar prejudice, the child or iRnOr.
ance so prevalent on this subject, against those
and other religious orders, and every painter who
proposes TO depict historical sub ects, as his con-
freres on paper and In books, should inform him.
self well In advance on the points, and adhere
conscientlously 10 fact and truth. 10. y.