Tattooed Hawaiian Chief, Drawn by Jacques Arago, Artist with Freycinet

Jacques Étienne Victor Arago (1790-1855) was a French writer, artist and explorer known for his contributions to literature, science and the arts. Born in Estagel, Roussillon, France, he was the younger brother of François Arago, the famous physicist and astronomer. Jacques Arago undertook several important expeditions during his lifetime, including voyages to the South Pacific and South America. He was the official artist on board the Uranie, under the command of Louis de Freycinet, during a scientific expedition from 1817 to 1820. This expedition aimed to explore and survey various regions, including the Pacific Islands, South America and Australia. Arago's sketches and illustrations from this expedition, depicting landscapes, indigenous peoples, flora and fauna, are highly regarded for their accuracy and artistic merit. His observations and artistic representations provide valuable insights into the cultures, environments and biodiversity of the regions he visited. In addition to his artistic activities, Jacques Arago was also a prolific writer. He documented his experiences and observations during the Uranie expedition in his memoirs, Voyage autour du monde. This work, together with his other writings, contributed to a better understanding of the regions he explored and their inhabitants. Jacques Arago's legacy lives on in his artistic and literary contributions, which continue to be studied and appreciated by historians, scientists and art lovers alike.