Description
Scarce German version of the famous Charles Alexander Lesueur panorama of Sydney.
This engraving was based on the exquisite pen and ink drawing by Charles Alexandre Lesueur, of the French encampment on the eastern side of Sydney Cove, with the panorama of Sydney and all its buildings and fortifications in the background. Lesueur’s important and impressive panorama of Sydney in 1803, was issued in the official account of the French expedition led by Nicholas Baudin. The view is taken from eastern side of Circular Quay, looking westwards to the Rocks. The Tom Thumb, George Bass’s whaleboat is the masted vessel moored against the far-shore.
Lesueur was the assistant gunner and artist, on the Geographe under the command of Nicolas Baudin and drew a number of remarkably accurate topographical views of Sydney during their five month stay at Port Jackson in 1802. The French Admiralty, although sending Baudin’s expedition under the ‘flag of truce’ with the sole aim of ‘perfecting the sciences’ had a political and strategic interest in the British settlement in New South Wales.
