Charles J Lundgren (New York, Connecticut, 1911 - 1988) "La Dauphine - Giovanni da Verrazzano" Signed lower right. Original oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. La Dauphine is the ship in which Giovanni da Verrazano (1485-1528), the Italian explorer, discovered New York Bay in 1524. Giovanni da Verrazzano was also the first explorer to name the new sites in North American after people and places in the Old World. Although born in Tuscany, Italy, he represented the country of France. His goals were to explore the coast of the "New Land" and to find a passage to the Orient. It was believed that there might be a passage between North and South America, and so he was chosen by King Francis I to sail to this area and discover a new and quicker route to the Orient. He returned to France after several voyages with a claim of the New World for France on July 8, 1524. His main route was across the Atlantic to mainly Central and North America. He made contact with the natives on most voyages, trading with them and learning about the land. In 1528, while exploring Florida, the Bahamas and the Lesser Antilles, Giovanni anchored his ship away from shore and rowed ashore in a little boat to greet the natives. He soon discovered they were not pleasant natives who wished to trade, but cannibals. He was killed and eaten immediately while his brother watched helplessly from the ship. Image Size: 18.5 x 18.5 in. Overall Size: 26 x 23.75 in. Unframed. (B09000)