The Discovery of the Mississippi by Ferdinand De Soto, and His Followers, May 1541

Hernando de Soto (1500--1542), a Spanish conquistador who led a huge expedition starting in 1539 to explore what is now the southeastern regions of the United States, reached the Mississippi River on May 8, 1541 – one of the first Europeans to do so.


This print recreates this historical episode, although its imprinted title incorrectly cites De Soto's first name as "Ferdinand." The image shows a group of men (most being Spanish conquistadors) on a river bank beside a wide river (right).. Arranged from right to left, two priests--dressed in long dark robes--raise their arms in prayer: the standing priest holds a cross, while the other kneels. At center, two men (wearing red capes and body armor) are on horseback: one on a white horse raises his sword, the other (wearing a plumed helment) is on a dark horse and holds a flag. Standing in the foreground are three vigilant soldiers holding rifles (two at left, one behind the priests)-- each dressed in a helmet, armor (a cuirass) over their blue tunic jacket, red pants, and tan boots. In the left background, is a Native American man wearing a feathered headress standing beside a mounted soldier and others standing beneath a flying blue banner (with golden-yellow borders).

Nathaniel Currier, whose successful New York-based lithography firm began in 1835, produced thousands of hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of mid-to-late nineteenth century American life and its history. People eagerly acquired such lithographs featuring picturesque scenery, rural and city views, ships, railroads, portraits, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments. As the firm expanded, Nathaniel included his younger brother Charles in the business. In 1857, James Merritt Ives (the firm's accountant since 1852 and Charles's brother-in-law) was made a business partner; subsequently renamed Currier & Ives, the firm continued until 1907.