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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.

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Jean Francois de Galaup de la Perouse, Commodore in the French Navy

1798
James Heath (engraver) and G G & J Robinson (publisher)

engraving on paper (sheet: 27.2 cm x 21.4 cm)

Jean-François de Galaup la Pérouse, Comte de la Pérouse (1741-1788), navigator, joined the French navy as a boy, rising to the rank of captain and serving with distinction and humanity in campaigns against the English in Hudson Bay in 1782. Selected to lead the French expedition seeking to ratify Cook's discoveries in the Pacific and clarify geographical mysteries in the Bering Sea, he left in command of the Boussole and L'Astrolabe in 1785. After touching at Alaska, California, Macao, Manila, Korea, Sakhalin Island and Kamchatka (whence he dispatched his journals) he headed for New Holland. In Samoa eleven of the Astrolabe's crew were killed, but he made no reprisals. He was seen off the coast of Botany Bay in January 1788, and welcomed ashore by John Hunter. He stayed for six weeks in the area that now bears his name; but on 10 March he sailed away, never to be seen again. During the French revolution, it was rumoured that the English had had a hand in his disappearance. A search led by Bruny d'Entrecasteaux in 1791 proved fruitless; it was not until thirty years after his departure from New South Wales that it was established that he had wrecked at Santa Cruz. The four-volume Voyage De La Pérouse Autour du Monde, the account of his journey as far as Kamchatka, was published in Paris in 1797 and translated into English a few years later.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Ted and Gina Gregg 2012

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

James Heath (age 41 in 1798)

G G & J Robinson

Jean-François de Galaup La Perouse

Donated by

Loretta Pash (40 portraits)

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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 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.

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