Caravel Collection (#6)

COLUMBUS: CARAVELS. Christopher Columbus fleet, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria: engraving, 19th century

CARAVELS, 16th CENTURY. Spanish caravels in a harbor. Flemish color engraving, 16th century

COLUMBUS: TRINIDAD, 1498. Christopher Columbus and his men discovering the three-peaked island of Trinidad (top left) in 1498: Spanish engraving, 1730

COLUMBUS: ARREST, 1500. The arrest of Christopher Columbus at Santo Domingo in 1500 by Francis de Bobadillo. Engraving, c1590, by Theodor de Bry

COLUMBUS: TRIBUTE, 1621. Allegorical tribute to Christopher Columbus and his discovery of the New World, including America and Spagniolla as shown on the accompanying map: German engraving, 1621

COLUMBUS: NATIVE AMERICANS The First Interview of Christopher Columbus with the Natives of America (1492): English engraving, 18th century

COLUMBUS CARAVELS, 1492. Chrisopher Columbus caravels setting sail from Spain, 3 August 1492. Detail of an engraving from Honorius Philoponus Nova typis transacta navigato novi orbis Indiae

St Elmos fire. Historical artwork of St Elmos fire glowing from the tops of a ships masts. St Elmos fire is a continuous electrical discharge that occurs towards the end of thunderstorms

Columbuss ship the Santa Maria. The Santa Maria was the Italian explorer Christopher Columbuss (1451-1506) flagship during his voyages that discovered the New World

COLUMBUS: NEW WORLD, 1492. The Landing of Columbus in the New World, 1492. Painting by William J. Aylward (b. 1875)
COLUMBUS: NEW WORLD, 1492. The Landing of Columbus in the New World, 1492. Painting by William J. Aylward (b.1875)

EXPL2A-00010
Columbus expedition coasting along the northern shore of Cuba. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

EXPL3A-00008
Columbus watching for land from the deck of the caravel Santa Maria, 1492. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

EXPL2A-00002
Caribbean natives bring provisions to the shipwrecked crew of Columbus, 1492. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

EXPL2A-00067
Departure of Columbuss first expedition from Palos, Spain, 1492. Printed color lithograph of a painting by Ricardo Balaca

Santa Maria of Columbus
The caravel Santa Maria, in which Columbus first sailed across the Atlantic

SANTA MARIA (DELORGUES
Columbuss caravel, the Santa Maria, formerly the Marigalante

C15 Caravel
A caravel in full sail

SANTA MARIA (CARRUTHER
Columbuss caravel, formerly the Marigalante

C16 Shipbuilding
Olandus, a Spanish commander in Colombia, has his men build a caravel from the timbers of their wrecked ships

Portuguese caravel

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

The caravel, a remarkable vessel that played a significant role in maritime history, has left an indelible mark on the world. From its involvement in the Battle of Lepanto (Lepanto) in 1571 to being depicted by Pere Mates (1500-1558), a renowned Renaissance Spanish painter, in his Altarpi artwork, this ship symbolizes exploration and adventure. Navigating by stars became possible with the caravel's introduction. Sailors relied on celestial bodies to guide them through treacherous waters at night, as shown in NAVIGATION BY STARS from 1575. It was this innovation that allowed The Pinta, the Nina, and the Santa Maria to sail towards the West Indies in 1492 during Christopher Columbus' voyage of discovery. Speaking of Columbus, he himself embarked on one such journey aboard a caravel. An engraving colored beautifully captures his spirit and determination as he set sail for new horizons. Catalan literature also recognized this vessel's significance during the 14th and 15th centuries when it featured prominently in books like Book of Con. Even outside Europe's shores, caravels made their presence felt. Magellan's expedition utilized these ships during their circumnavigation of the globe—an extraordinary feat that forever changed our understanding of Earth's geography. Back home again at Palos de la Frontera lies another pivotal moment: Embarkation of Christopher Columbus. This painting immortalizes Columbus boarding his trusty caravel before embarking on his groundbreaking voyage across uncharted seas. Not limited to Spain alone, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama also relied heavily on these versatile vessels during his expeditions between 1460-1524. Their reliability and maneuverability were unmatched at sea. As time went on, other magnificent ships emerged—such as HMS Sovereign of the Seas—a testament to how influential early designs like those seen with caravels were.