Antique Print of the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro by D'Urville (1853)

The harbor of Rio de Janeiro, an original engraving from volume 1 of Voyage autour du monde by Dumont d'Urville, dated 1853. The oval view is printed in black on a light sheet, with the plate title "Rade de Rio Janeiro" engraved beneath it.

The scene looks across the water of the bay toward the town, which lies low along the shore at the foot of the mountains. Pale peaks rise behind it on both sides, and a sun or moon disc hangs in a cloudy sky crossed by flocks of birds. In the foreground a small rowing boat carries three figures, and further out sailing vessels lie at anchor in front of the waterfront, with more small craft and gulls on the water. The engraver's and draughtsman's names are lettered in small type below the image corners, and the publisher's imprint appears under the title.

Dumont d'Urville led French naval voyages of scientific exploration, and the plates of his Voyage autour du monde record the ports and coasts visited along the way.