“CHASSE AUX PHOQUES, LE 6 FÉVRIER 1838” (Parages Antarctiques)
From: "Voyage au Pôle Sud et dans l'Océanie" sur les corvettes L'Astrolabe et La Zélée
exécuté par ordre du Roi pendant les Années 1837-1838-1839-1840 sous le commandement de M. Dumont-d'Urville
Atlas pittoresque plate 21
First edition, published in Paris by Gide, 1842-1846.
Imprimerie Thierry frères, Paris.
(Douarnenez 1818 - Paris 1866)
Lithographed by Leon Sabatier
French landscape and historical subjets painter and lithographer
Superb and detailed Antarctic view.
A scene depicting seals hunting; two French ships in the background.
Taken after nature by Louis Le Breton (1818-1866) during the famous South Pole and Oceania expedition executed by Jules Dumont d'Urville.
After exploring the southern regions Dumont D’Urville's ships sailed to the Pacific visiting many of the islands, Singapore, Batavia, and reached Hobart at the end of 1839.
After a short period of rest in Hobart the ships headed south again on January 1, 1840, this time reaching about 64°S and found themselves suddenly surrounded by icebergs.
On January 19, land was sighted, it was completely covered with snow so high it was impossible to see the summit.
D’Urville named the coast, Terre Adelie after his wife.
The expedition had established the approximate position of the magnetic pole and d’Urville felt that their task had been accomplished and left Antarctica and headed for New Zealand.
The maps and views were published in the official accounts of the voyage and are the finest ever produced of Antarctica and intended to reflect France’s rightful place on the international stage.
LeBreton’s lithographs are among the finest made in the C19th.
Embossed blind stamp “Gide Editeur Paris” denoting that is from the original edition of “Voyage au Pole Sud”.
Lithograph printed on wove paper.
Editor stamp/cachet left lower margin.
First edition of the famous "Voyage au Pôle Sud et dans l'Océanie" sur les corvettes L'Astrolabe et La Zélée exécuté
par ordre du Roi pendant les Années 1837-1838-1839-1840 sous le commandement de M. Dumont d'Urville.
SIZE: 310mm(H) x 480mm(L) [image]
360mm(H) x 542mm(L) [sheet]
In excellent condition, few mm of paper loss on right low corner.
Was a French marine artist and was the official artist on board the voyage of exploration under the command of Dumont D’Urville.
From 1847 he devoted himself mainly to depicting marine subjects for the French Navy.