CONCEPTION CHILEAN NATIVES CHILE 1797 LA PÉROUSE UNUSUAL ANTIQUE ORIGINAL VIEW

Costumes des Habitans de la Conception.

Description: Striking and highly detailed fine 1797 large fine example of Jean François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse first French edition of this wonderful, early striking view of the costumes of the local inhabitants of the city of Conception, in Chile.
 
Composition and Style:
 
The engraving is executed in a classic style characteristic of the late 18th century, demonstrating a high level of detail and precision typical of the period's cartographic and illustrative works. The scene is composed of various figures in traditional attire, showcasing the cultural garments of the inhabitants of Concepcion. The foreground is occupied by individuals in elaborate costumes, indicating their status or role within the society. The background features a coastal landscape with ships, suggesting a connection to exploration and trade.
 
Medium:
 
As an engraved view, the artwork utilizes intaglio printmaking techniques, where the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or area holds the ink. This method allows for fine details and rich textures, evident in the intricate patterns of the clothing and the subtle rendering of the landscape.
 
Subject Matter:
 
The central theme of the engraving is the depiction of local costumes, providing insight into the cultural identity and social structure of late 18th-century Concepcion. The diversity of attire suggests a community with varied social roles and influences, possibly reflecting interactions with European explorers and settlers.
 
Cultural and Historical Context:
 
This work is part of a larger atlas documenting the voyages of Jean-Francois de Galaup, comte de La Perouse, a French naval officer and explorer. La Perouse's expedition, which set sail in 1785, aimed to expand upon the discoveries of Captain Cook, exploring the Pacific region. Although La Perouse was shipwrecked in 1788, his narratives and illustrations survived, offering invaluable insights into the cultures and geographies encountered during his travels.
 
The depiction of Concepcion's inhabitants would have served both as an ethnographic record and as a piece of visual interest for European audiences eager to learn about distant lands. The artwork reflects a period of exploration and colonial expansion, where European powers were keen to document and understand the diverse cultures they encountered.
 
Significant Features:
 
- Garments and Attire: The detailed portrayal of clothing highlights the craftsmanship and design characteristic of the region's traditional costumes. The attire's complexity may indicate social status or cultural significance.
 
- Coastal Setting: The inclusion of ships and a maritime backdrop underscores the importance of trade and navigation to Concepcion, hinting at its role as a port city during the era of exploration.
 
- Social Interaction: The grouping and postures of the figures suggest social interactions and hierarchies, offering a glimpse into the societal structure of the time.
 
Publication Information:
 
The print was created by Duche-de-Vancy and engraved by Thomas, with contributions by Jean Michel Moreau le jeune and L. Aubert scripsit. It forms part of the "Atlas du Voyage de la Perouse," published in 1797 by L'Imprimerie de la Republique.
 
It is included in an atlas comprised of 34 maps, which serves as a visual and narrative accompaniment to La Perouse's documented voyages.
 
In summary, "Costumes des habitans de la Conception" is an exquisite engraving that encapsulates the cultural and historical milieu of late 18th-century Concepcion, blending artistic skill with ethnographic interest to convey the richness of the region's traditions and its connection to global maritime exploration.
 
Pub Fields and References:
 
This view is from the "Atlas du Voyage de la Perouse," a significant work documenting La Perouse's expedition. It is part of a larger collection consisting of 34 maps and views, published as a chart atlas and world atlas in 1797. The publication is noted for its strong impressions and is considered exceptional when compared to the smaller English Atlas of 1799.
 
Source: Galaup, J. F. (Comte de La Perouse), Atlas du Voyage de la Perouse, (Paris) 1797. 

Date: 1797 ( undated )

Dimension: Paper size approx.: cm 60,8 x 44,9

Condition: Very strong and dark impression on good paper. Paper with chains. Map uncolored. Corners partially missing. Small foxing and browning. Conditions are as you can see in the images. 

Mapmaker: Jean François de Galaup, Comte de La Pérouse (August 23, 1741 - 1788) was a French naval officer, navigator, and explorer active in the later part of the 18th century. Born into a noble family of Albi, France, La Perouse entered the navel college of Brest at just 15. At seventeen La Perouse made his first naval voyage, a supply expedition to the fort of Louisbourg in New France. He later participated in a number of naval battles, mostly against the English, and eventually rose to the rank of Commodore. In 1782 he captured the English forts Prince of Wales and York, making a name for himself back in France. Following the British defeat at the end of the American Revolutionary War, La Perouse was appointed by Louis XVI to lead an expedition of discovery circumnavigating the globe. The goal of the expedition was to complete and correct the maps of the Pacific drawn by Captain Cook. La Perouse's two frigates, the Astrolabe and the Boussole rounded Cape Horn and entered the Pacific in 1785. Crisscrossing the Pacific from Macau and Japan to Alaska, Vancouver, and the Hawaiian Islands Perouse made numerous discoveries and adding considerably to the cartographic corpus, particularly along the coast of British Columbia and around Japan. In Australia La Perouse sent his last letter back to France containing all of his maps and research. Tragically, on the return voyage La Perouse ran into a violent storm which left both of his frigates shipwrecked on the Polynesian island of Vanikoro, part of the Santa Cruz Group. Some of the survivors of the shipwrecks seem to have managed to live on the island for years afterwards. As late as 1790 the English Captain Edward Edwards saw smoke signals coming from Vanikoro but foolishly declined to investigate. Expeditions in 2005 and in 2008 identified the remains of both ships and retuned numerous artifacts from the ill-fated expedition to France. The importance of La Perouse's discoveries was, unfortunately, not seriously appreciated until many years later because, when the La Perouse maps were finally published in 1797, newer more accurate maps of the region were already in circulation. Nonetheless, La Perouse remains of the titans of Pacific exploration and he work paved the path forward for all future expeditions to the region.