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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Sea legged frogs

Joanna Gilmour describes some of the stories of the individuals and incidents that define French exploration of Australia and the Pacific.

More information on Sea legged frogs

Selected images

11 images
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Louis XVI giving final instructions to the Comte de La Perouse, c. 1785
Louis XVI giving final instructions to the Comte de La Perouse, c. 1785
Cour-rou-bari-gal
Cour-rou-bari-gal, published 1807 Barthélemy Roger after Nicolas-Martin Petit
Y-erran-gou-la-ga
Y-erran-gou-la-ga, published 1807 Barthélemy Roger after Nicolas-Martin Petit
Baie de Chiensmarins, observatoire de l'Uranie, 1818
Baie de Chiensmarins, observatoire de l'Uranie, 1818
Nicolas Baudin, c. 1804
Nicolas Baudin, c. 1804
Eucalyptus globulus, 1817
Eucalyptus globulus, 1817
Nani, 1819
Nani, 1819
François Péron
François Péron, c. 1805 Conrad Westermayr after Jean Henri Cless
Bruny d'Entrecasteaux
Bruny d'Entrecasteaux, 1837 Antoine Maurin
La Pérouse
La Pérouse, c. 1830s N Mague, Blaisot
Jacques Arago
Jacques Arago, c. 1830s Nicolas Maurin, Alexandre Sixdeniers
11 images
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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night
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The National Portrait Gallery building at night

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People walking away from the entrance to the National Portrait Gallery
People walking away from the entrance to the National Portrait Gallery
People walking away from the entrance to the National Portrait Gallery
People walking away from the entrance to the National Portrait Gallery

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© National Portrait Gallery 2026
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency