New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-23
HOW COLUMBUS LOOKED.
PEN PORTRAITS OF TIE GREAT DlSOoN-
ERER BY CONTEMPORARIES AND
LATER HISTORIANS.

LATER HISTORIANS.
In the opinion of Mr. Henry Ilarrissc. who has
made Columbus the study Of his life, and who -
universally regarded the foremost Of all Column
bian scholars There is not single authentic Ike
mes, among the countless engraved sculpturcd ana
painted portraits that pretend to r"irOdnce the
features Of Americas dscovercr. Since they are,
without exception, more or less fanciul, there Is
hardly any better way Of bringing Columbus be-
fore the minds eye just the man really stood and
walked upon this earth than 10 read what has
been written about him by those who knew him
personally and by historians of later date.
Strangely enough. the g"sspng lettcr-wllter
and official royal chronicer Peter Martyr, does not
condesccnd 70 describe the personal appearance OF
Columbus, although he was we'll acqialntcd WIN
him But in an unauthorized Translation mo
Italian of Peter Martyrs first Decade, made in
1901. and published at Venice in 500, Is inter-
poated the most ancient pen portrait of the great
navi gator This book is so excessively rare tlat
only one copy of it is known to exist, and that IL
in a Venetian library. II is supposed TO b" the
work Of Angelo Trivigiano. who had become per-
sonally intimate with Columbus at Granada, in
Spain He SAWS that the discovercy robust
man. tall rcd-hared and with a long face
Another contemporary portrait Of Columbus i
embodied in the biography usually ascribcd TO his
son Ferdinand although few later critics are
disp)se to believe it the work OF some other pen
There il is affirmed that THE Admiral was man
of good shape and more than mlddlins stature
with long face, and with checks a little fun,
though neither fat nor lean. He had an aqniilh"
nose and light eyes, white complexion so on
with bright col r. In his youth he had iAir
hair, but when he was thirty years Old, II all
turned white In eating and drinking, and aiS'
IN the adornment Of his person, he was very rpar-
ing and modest
0viedo, the historographcr q the Indies. was
a boy Ct fifteen and page AT court when 'ollih-
bus was received by Ferdinand and Isabella on
his return from his first memorable voyage, ana
he had other opportunities Of seeing the famous
Genocse, although he IL not known TO hay" bcrA
on intimate terms with him Ia his great history
the djscoverer is portrayed as of fine stature
and appearance, rather taller than the average
and robust in build, with bright cycs, and his
other features well proportioncd, his hair being
very red. and his face mewhat high-colored AID
ficclled.
The Apostle of the Indies. Las Casas, dill MT
probably begin TO write his famous history until
al least twenty years after the death Of Columbus
but he had been personally acquainted with him
and knew many Of his friends and fellOw-voyag"rs.
:, that the portrait he draws may be considered
especially trustworthy. He says that IN looks
Columbus was tall, over middlinq height. and had
a long and commanding face, an aqiilinc nos''
blue eyes white complexion tending 10 fiery red,
| and beard and heir red in his youth, but early
| turning gray from trouble He Of an amiablc
| and cheerful disposition, good tallcr, arabic -
| strangers kind and pleasant 70 his domcstir@ OIL
| moderate gravity and discreet conversation. -
that he coull easily awaken the love of people
coming in contact with him. IN his person and
venerable appearance be seemed n man OF great
| state and authority and worthy Of all reverence
| Las Casas further remarks that the great navi-
gator was very plain in his dress somc'im'-s wear
ing gray clothes. and that he had seen him after
[ his return from his second vyage attircd almost
| like a Franciscan monk. Bcrnaldrz. the village
priest and historian of the reign OF Ferdinand a7d
Isabella had the honor Of entertaining Columbus
in his own house. and he t-o. notices that the d.
coverer was fond Of dressing in the coor worn BIZ
the monks of 81. Francis with Franciscan cord
| about his waist deg, Gallon. also, in his last
will and testament says that his father was always
devoted TO the order Of ST. Francis. and died In
its habit These details concerning his dress prove
how little reliance is 10 be placed the portraits
| showing Columbus with curling mustachc, an
| immense ruff around his neck and a rich double.
Nearly half century after the earthly trials Of
| Columbus were over. fell w-countiyman Of his,
Girolamo Benzoni by name, s!cnt fourteen years
| in adventurous wan1crngs over America meeting
no doubt. many survivors Of Columbian days and
on returning home he published In Italian n
History Of the Now World" AZ Venice, In 1868.
| 1t thus describes the Genocse Admiral: He was
a man of a good reasonable stature. with strons,
sound limbs; Of good Judgment, high talent, and
gentlcmanlke aspect. Ills eyes were bright his
hair red, his nose aquilinc his mouth somewhat
large: but, above ALL he was friend TO justice,
though rather passionate when angry
Antonio de Herrera. the official chroniccr Of the
Indies, began the publication of his great work in
1901, and it is possible that he may. In early ife
have known men who voyaged with Columbus
but his verbal portrait Of the dscovcrcr is copied
| almost word for word from Las Casas
Gomara, the chaplain and secretary Of Cortcs,
certainly met many Of the contemporaries 81 Column
bus, and his history briefly rccounts that the hero
a man OF good stature and robust, long
visaged, of reddish complexion and frcckled.
The historians Of later date have 20 base their
descriptions Of Coumbus's personal appearance
upon the Spanish and Italian writers already
enumerated. and occasionally they add something
drawn from their own imagination. Thus the
| Catholic biographer, Roselly de Lorgues. in his
overrnastering desire TO make saint OF America !
discOvercr, paints a glowing portrait IN words Of
the hero with dimrle in his chin and other fas-
cinating details, for which not shadow of author
ity Is given. Washington Irving says that the
contemporaries Of Columbus speak Of his com.
mapding person, his elevated dcncanor, his air Of
authority, his ldnding eye, and the persuasive
intonations of his voice" Mr.. Frederick Saun-
| dcrs. in HE recent epitome Of Columbuss career,
portrays the famous discoverer as 60 tall, Of goo1
presence, well formed, muscular. and OF an ele-
waited and dgnlhed demeanor' Among other
late writer's Mr. Justin Winscr thinks that TO
picture Columbus he stood on San Salvador,
we might figure man Of impressive stature, with
lofty, not 10 say anstere, bearing his face longer
| by something more than It's breadth, his cheek
| bones high, his nose aquiline, his eyes light
gray his complexion fair, with frccklcs spotting
rudy glow, his hair once light, but then turned
TO gray Mr.. John Fiske describes the great
man. whom all America is now honoring, AZ of
noble and commanding presence. tall and power
! fully built, with fair, ruddy complexion, keen