Exhibition labels & didactics - National Gallery of Victoria

8
Samuel John NEELE engraver
English 1758–1824
Map of the large ocean or South Sea drawn
up for the voyage of discoveries made by
the French frigates Boussole and Astrolabe
in the years 1785, 86, 87 and 88
Carte de Grand Océan ou Mer du Sud
Dressée pour la Relation du Voyage de
Découvertes faites par les Frégates Françaises
la Boussole et l’Astrolabe dans les Années
1785, 86, 87 et 88
plate no. 3 in Atlas du voyage de La Pérouse autour du
monde (Atlas accompanying La Pérouse’s voyage around
the world) by Louis Antoine Milet-Mureau, published
by G. G. and J. Robinson, London
1799
engraving
Rare Books Collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne RARELTEF 910.41 L31VMM
The La Pérouse expedition disappeared
completely, a victim of shipwreck, following
its departure from Australia in March 1788.
La Pérouse’s journal, charts and other papers
had been previously dispatched to France,
however, enabling an account of his voyages
to be published in 1797 by Louis-Marie-
Antoine Destouff, Baron de Milet-Mureau.
The map of Australia published by
Milet-Mureau was largely complete save for
the region encompassing the present-day
Victoria and South Australia. This would
be the focus of Napoleon’s later interest in
Australia, perhaps reflecting his adolescent
connection with the La Pérouse expedition.
© COPYRIGHT
This document remains the property of the National Gallery of Victoria and must be returned upon request. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without written authorisation.