Echouage des Corvettes dans le Canal Mauvais

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Echouage des Corvettes dans le Canal Mauvais

Artist Louis Le Breton (1818-1866) (French, 1818 - 1866)

Date1846

Object number00008309

NameLithograph

MediumInk on paper

Dimensions560mm W x 410mm H

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

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DescriptionLithograph titled 'Echouage des Corvettes dans le Canal Mauvais' (Stranding of the Corvettes in the Bad Channel). This lithograph depicts an event which occured towards the end of Dumont d'Urville's final voyage (1837-1840) when both of his ships, the ASTROLABE and the ZÉLÉE, ran aground on Warrior Reef while attempting to traverse Torres Strait. It was originally drawn and published by junior surgeon Louis Le Breton who took over from d'Urville's official artist Ernest Goupil after the latter died in Hobart in 1840.HistoryDumont d'Urville's third and final voyage to the Pacific was with the ASTROLABE and the ZÉLÉE, captained by Charles Jacquinot, from 1837 to 1840. On 1 June, 1840, both of d'Urville's corvettes, the ASTROLABE and the ZÉLÉE, ran aground while attempting to traverse the Torres Strait. It was not until 4 June that they were able to free themselves and resume their journey. This complication is well documented in d'Urville's published account of the expedition.SignificanceThis lithograph is of great significance in that it provides a visual record of one of the great French exploratory ventures of the 19th century (and, incidentally, one of the last). It is important as a source in both the history of European world exploration and, more specifically, of the European relationship with Australia and its inhabitants.