TitlePrint, Louis Antoine, Count of Bougainville arriving in TahitiAbout this objectThis romanticised illustration depicts French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville landing at Tahiti in 1768. Bougainville stands aboard a longboat approaching the shore, surrounded by his crew, while Tahitian men and women gather to greet the newcomers. Lush vegetation and a calm shoreline frame the scene, reflecting 19th-century European ideals of Pacific exploration and first contact.Object No.88.102Physical descriptionThe image depicts the French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville arriving by longboat at the shore of Tahiti. Bougainville stands prominently near the bow of the boat, dressed in European naval uniform, gesturing toward the island as if greeting or addressing its inhabitants.
The scene is lively and theatrical. The longboat is crowded with French sailors who row toward a shoreline lined with Tahitian men and women. The Tahitians are shown with garlands, spears, and decorative fabrics, welcoming the newcomers. Palm trees rise behind them, framing a lush, idealised tropical landscape.DimensionsH: 310mm W: 350mmCredit lineDonated by Mr & Mrs P. MessinaAcquisition date1988On displayNoTypeMuseum objectsOrganisations (Detailed entries)La Perouse Museum (La Perouse, N.S.W.)ThemesEuropean arrivals
Print, Louis Antoine, Count of Bougainville arriving in Tahiti. Randwick City Council, accessed 26/05/2026, https://ourstory.randwick.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/12340
