Vatican uncovers first known depiction of Native Americans
(RNS1-may2) A Resurrection scene painted by the Renaissance master Pinturicchio was restored to reveal a small depiction of naked men with feathered headdresses who appear to be dancing. A man on horseback is also visible. For use with RNS-VATICAN-NATIVE, transmitted on May 2, 2013, Photo courtesy Vatican Museums.
Alessandro Speciale | May 2, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Preservationists working on a Renaissance fresco in the Vatican have uncovered what experts believe is the first European representation of Native Americans, from 1494.
Writing on April 27 in the Vaticans semi-official newspaper, LOsservatore Romano, the director of the Vatican Museum, Antonio Paolucci, said the previously unnoticed detail was discovered in a Resurrection scene painted by the Renaissance master Pinturicchio.
Covered by centuries of soot, the restoration of the painting revealed a small depiction of naked men with feathered headdresses who appear to be dancing. A man on horseback is also visible.
According to Paolucci, Pinturicchios fresco dates back to 1494, just two years after Christopher Columbus discovery of the Americas.
http://www.religionnews.com/2013/05/02/vatican-uncovers-first-known-depiction-of-native-americans/