One of the first images of Victoria. The view is taken inside Ryll Inlet, on the north-east coast of Phillip Island,  a little to the east of the town of Cowes. It shows the crew of the French frigate l'Astrolabe seine fishing in 1826. l'Astrolabe, under the command of Dumont D'Urville made a voyage of discovery and scientific research to the south and west Pacific between the years 1826 &1829. The earliest views of the coast of Victoria were executed during the voyage. Ryll Inlet was named CRIQUE DES MANGLIERS or Mangrove Creek. Drawn by Louis de Sainson, (1800-1848) who was the voyage artist on the French exploring expedition commanded by Dumont d'Urville between the years 1826-29. This was d'Urville's second voyage to the Pacific in the same ship. On an earlier voyage, the ship was named LA COQUILLE but on this second voyage, was renamed ASTROLABE in honour of the lost French explorer La Perouse whose ship was ASTROLABE. Louis de Sainson was a career draftsman in the French navy and created hundreds of pictures which were used to illustrate the account of the voyage which was published between 1832-34.
235 x 346 mm.
Lithograph.
Later Hand Colour.
Rare and important.