The carrack Victoria arriving at Cape St. Vincent.

This watercolor depicts the carrack Victoria—the only ship to survive Magellan’s voyage—on its return journey to Spain, reaching Cape St Vincent in Portugal. It returned with the last 18 survivors of the expedition that was embarked upon by Ferdinand Magellan in 1519. This expedition aimed to find a westward route to the Maluku Islands, without crossing the seas reserved for the Portuguese by the Treaty of Tordesillas. In 1522 the only surviving ship—the carrack Victoria—finally reached Seville, commanded by Juan Sebastián Elcano, following the death of Magellan in the Philippines a year earlier.

The carrack was a ship typically used during the 16th century, which evolved from the medieval cog. These ships are characterized by a rounded hull, rudder, and aftercastle. The carrack Victoria was built in the shipyards at Zarauz.

The work was painted by Corvette Captain Guillermo González de Aledo Rittwagen. In addition to his military career, he was known for his artistic talents; in particular his watercolors on naval themes, which were greatly enhanced by his knowledge of the sea and of naval shipbuilding.