2026年11月17日星期二 
A Selection: Drawings, Paintings, Sculptures and Rare Letters at Auction at Drouot
O n November 17, 2026, twelve exceptionally rare letters written by Jean-André Mongez, a member of La Pérouse’s expedition, will reappear in France at an auction presented by Daguerre at Drouot. The collection is estimated at €30,000–50,000.
As witnesses to an expedition from which their author would never return, these letters have crossed oceans and weathered the twists and turns of history before resurfacing, offering a rare glimpse into one of the greatest maritime expeditions and adventures of the 18th century.
Seven of the letters chronicle the expedition’s journey from its departure from Brest on August 1, 1785, to Botany Bay in Australia, its last known port of call before the expedition disappeared in 1788. This exceptional collection traces, through personal correspondence, the successive stages of a voyage whose tragic fate continues to fascinate.
The significance of these letters extends far beyond a simple account of the journey. They provide a valuable counterpoint to the expedition’s official records: while reports document observations and discoveries, Mongez offers a personal account of life on board, encounters with unfamiliar peoples and the dangers of navigation.
The letters written before departure shed new light on the reasons that led him to join La Pérouse’s expedition despite his reservations. He also recounts violent storms, illness and attacks from which he narrowly escaped, as well as the tragic death of his closest friend, Chevalier Robert de Lamanon. These episodes lend his writings a deeply human dimension, bringing to life the risks faced by the members of the expedition.
A priest, physicist and mineralogist, Mongez emerges as an adventurous and athletic man, with a keen sense of humour and a deep attachment to those around him. His correspondence with Louise Victoire Le Cloustier also hints at the complexities of a romantic relationship, revealing a more intimate side of the man remembered by history as a companion of La Pérouse.
The fact that these letters, written throughout the voyage, travelled across the world and survived the many upheavals of history before resurfacing in France is one of the most remarkable aspects of this discovery. Today, they offer a rare opportunity to rediscover, through the words of one of its participants, the reality of an expedition whose mystery endures.
Lost in 1788 alongside La Pérouse’s expedition, Jean-André Mongez remains closely associated with the mystery of Vanikoro. In 2003, the discovery of a skeleton near the wreck of La Boussole fuelled speculation that it might belong to the scientist. Several material clues supported this hypothesis, including an estimated age of between 33 and 35, remarkably well-preserved teeth, a crucifix and tableware bearing Mongez’s initials.
The sale also features drawings, paintings and sculptures, including an exceptional drawing by Charles Le Brun, executed around 1659 for the proposed ceiling of the Salon du Dôme at the Louvre Palace. This virtuoso work is estimated at €150,000–200,000.
A masterpiece of the Flemish school, Allegory of the Four Elements, from the workshop of Jan Brueghel the Younger and Frans Francken, is another highlight of the sale, with an estimate of €30,000–50,000.
Seven of the letters chronicle the expedition’s journey from its departure from Brest on August 1, 1785, to Botany Bay in Australia, its last known port of call before the expedition disappeared in 1788. This exceptional collection traces, through personal correspondence, the successive stages of a voyage whose tragic fate continues to fascinate.
The significance of these letters extends far beyond a simple account of the journey. They provide a valuable counterpoint to the expedition’s official records: while reports document observations and discoveries, Mongez offers a personal account of life on board, encounters with unfamiliar peoples and the dangers of navigation.
The letters written before departure shed new light on the reasons that led him to join La Pérouse’s expedition despite his reservations. He also recounts violent storms, illness and attacks from which he narrowly escaped, as well as the tragic death of his closest friend, Chevalier Robert de Lamanon. These episodes lend his writings a deeply human dimension, bringing to life the risks faced by the members of the expedition.
A priest, physicist and mineralogist, Mongez emerges as an adventurous and athletic man, with a keen sense of humour and a deep attachment to those around him. His correspondence with Louise Victoire Le Cloustier also hints at the complexities of a romantic relationship, revealing a more intimate side of the man remembered by history as a companion of La Pérouse.
The fact that these letters, written throughout the voyage, travelled across the world and survived the many upheavals of history before resurfacing in France is one of the most remarkable aspects of this discovery. Today, they offer a rare opportunity to rediscover, through the words of one of its participants, the reality of an expedition whose mystery endures.
Lost in 1788 alongside La Pérouse’s expedition, Jean-André Mongez remains closely associated with the mystery of Vanikoro. In 2003, the discovery of a skeleton near the wreck of La Boussole fuelled speculation that it might belong to the scientist. Several material clues supported this hypothesis, including an estimated age of between 33 and 35, remarkably well-preserved teeth, a crucifix and tableware bearing Mongez’s initials.
The sale also features drawings, paintings and sculptures, including an exceptional drawing by Charles Le Brun, executed around 1659 for the proposed ceiling of the Salon du Dôme at the Louvre Palace. This virtuoso work is estimated at €150,000–200,000.
A masterpiece of the Flemish school, Allegory of the Four Elements, from the workshop of Jan Brueghel the Younger and Frans Francken, is another highlight of the sale, with an estimate of €30,000–50,000.
