Name/Title
The Amistad Series: Mutiny on the AmistadDescription
In this mural, the Africans who were abducted by Portuguese slave hunters are in the moment of seizing the ship, the Amistad, in February of 1839. The abduction violated all of the treaties then in existence.
The Africans wield sugar knives as they attack the crew, killing the cook and the captain. They spared the lives of the two Spanish plantation owners (seen in the left half of the painting), Pedro Montes and Jose Ruiz, who had commissioned the ship to transport the Africans to a Caribbean plantation.
The Africans ordered Montes and Ruiz to sail to Africa. Instead of sailing for Africa, the owners sailed along the eastern coast of the United States and the ship was eventually seized off Long Island, NY, by the U.S. brig Washington. The schooner, its cargo, and all on board were taken to New London, CT. The plantation owners were freed and the Africans were imprisoned on charges of murder.Collection
The Amistad Murals, Talladega College Fine Art, Talladega College Permanent CollectionMade/Created
Artist
Hale Aspacio WoodruffDate made
1938Time Period
20th CenturyInscription/Signature/Marks
