King George Sound.
The observatory was set up in 1826 at the entrance to King George Sound during the first Australian landfall of the Voyage of the l'Astrolabe. The view is taken from Vancouver Peninsula looking across the entrance to Princess Royal Harbour, at the tents of the observatory on the opposite shore.
Drawn by Louis de Saison, principal landscape artist on the 1826-29 French voyage of reconnaissance to the Pacific commanded by Dumont d'Urville in the corvette l'Astrolabe. The British authorities in Sydney were highly suspicious of the French activities and d'Urville left Sydney after a short stay of seventeen days.
Louis de Saison's views drawn during the voyage are considered amongst the finest early views of Sydney.
Lithograph.
Later hand colour.
210 x 330 mm. (Ruled border).