The artwork from Freycinet's circumnavigation on the Uranie includes original drawings taken 'd'aprés nature' by Arago, Taunay and Pellion on the voyage. This is the most important of these images showing the landing of Freycinet’s party on the Peron Peninsular in 1818.

Pellion depicts the Uranie encampment at Shark Bay with the fresh water distillery set up in the centre and Rose de Freycinet seated with her mulatto companion by her tent on the right (the first representation of a white woman in Western Australia). Rose de Freycinet, the commander's wife, had stowed away at Toulon, and should not have been there at all. When this drawing was published in the official account of the voyage Rose had been removed from the picture.

Format: Watercolour (35.6 x 48.2 cm)

Shark Bay observed from Uranie by J. Alphonse Pellion, 1818.