Portrait of a Man, Said to be Christopher Columbus (born about 1446, died 1506)

Sebastiano del Piombo's 1519 portrait, traditionally identified as Christopher Columbus, is among the most discussed attribution puzzles in Renaissance portraiture. Since Columbus died in 1506, the painting cannot be from life and may represent an idealized posthumous likeness or an entirely different sitter. Sebastiano painted it during his Roman period when he was at the height of his powers, combining Venetian colorism with the monumental form he learned from Michelangelo.

Sebastiano's oil technique on canvas shows the rich, warm tones and smooth modeling of his Venetian training. The sitter's face is modeled with subtle chiaroscuro, emerging from a dark background with the grave dignity that characterizes Sebastiano's best portraits.