William H. Powell was the last artist to be commissioned by the Congress for a painting in the Rotunda. His dramatic and brilliantly colored canvas shows Spanish conqueror and explorer Hernando DeSoto, riding a white horse, the first European to view the Mississippi River, in 1541. As De Soto and his troops approach, the Native Americans in front of their tepees watch, and a chief holds out a peace pipe. In the foreground is a jumble of weapons and soldiers, suggesting the attack they had suffered shortly before. To the right, a monk prays as a crucifix is set in the ground.

This painting has been digitally filtered to reduce blurring. This effect is more noticeable the larger the image is.

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mississippi "discovery of the mississippi" powell "william h. powell" "william powell" "powell painting" "powell art" "american history" "american painting" "american art" desoto "hernando desoto" "mississippi river" indians "native americans" "american indians"