The Astrolabe Stuck In Sea Ice
The Astrolabe Stuck In Sea Ice February 6, 1838 (L’astrolabe faisant de l’eau sur un glaçon le 6 février 1838). Picture Atlas, Plate 20 of 22 [Atlas pittoresque, planche 20 (22)] c1846 by French Painter Louis Le Breton (1818 – 1866) and Engraver who specialized in creating maritime artwork.
This is an engraving of the French Exploration ship the L’astrolabe; that was originally a horse barge named the Coquille (Shell); which was later converted into a ship of exploration, and who’s name was changed in 1825, to that of a previous ship that had disappeared in 1788.
In this engraving by Louis Le Breton (who became the official illustrator after the previous illustrator died), we see the L’astrolabe stuck in sea ice as the crew tries to free her.
To the far right in the distance is another ship, the Zelle which may also be trapped in sea ice, with the crew of that ship doing their best to release it from the icy grip of the sea.
In the foreground and in the background, as well as all around the ships are massive boulders of ice with some patches of open see, and sea birds flying above the working crew to the right of the scene; that are set against a very cloudy sky that is being illuminated around the edges by sunlight.
The expedition to Antarctica that this engraving depicts, was under the command of Jules Sébastien César Dumont d’Urville (1790 – 1842), a Naval Officer, French Explorer, Botanist and Cartographer (Producer of Maps); that conducted several expeditions to Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific and Western Pacific.
This is a remastered digital art old masters reproduction of a public domain image that is available for purchase as a rolled canvas print online.
Information Above Derived From The Following Sources:
Coolantarctica
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