week 5

Obregón, José María-*The Inspiration of Christopher Columbus(1856)

José María Obregón’s painting The Inspiration of Columbus shows Columbus looking out off of the coastline at the New World. He likely contemplating his incredible discovery and the effect it will have on his old world. In the painting Lehi and His People Arrive in the Promised Land Lehi’s face shows a similar expression as he approaches the New World with his family. Although these two explorers arrived on the American continent many years apart from one another they have many things in common.

Lehi and His People Arrive in the Promised Land (Gospel Art Book [2009], no. 71)

            They were both led to the new land by the hand of God. Both the Book of Mormon and Columbus’ letters teach us that he was led to the promised land through inspiration. 2 Nephi 1:6 states, “there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord, and in his letter to the king and queen of Spain Columbus wrote: “The eternal God our Lord gives to all those who walk in his path victory over things that seem impossible”. Similarly, the Book of Mormon teaches us that Lehi was led to the promised land by the hand of God through the Liahona. Nephi wrote, “we should be led with one accord into the land of promise” (1Nephi 10:13).

            In each of the paintings the artist appears to acknowledge the subject’s respect for God. Lehi looks heavenward as if to praise God and thank Him for providing a way for his family to arrive safely in the land of promise. Columbus appears to be gazing into the distance in thoughtful meditation. His facial expression suggests that he too is considering the hand which brought him to the new world. In both paintings light also appears to radiate from the clouds, further implying that God has prepared the land for the arrival of each of these groups. Ultimately, it is because of the Lord that each person who has come to the promised land has made it safely there.