Jacques (de Morgues) Le Moyne Paintings

Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues was a French artist and member of the Huguenot religious sect. Born around 1533 in Dieppe, France, he is best known for his work as a cartographer and as an illustrator who recorded the landscapes, flora, and fauna of the New World. Le Moyne was part of the French expedition to Florida under the command of Jean Ribault and René Goulaine de Laudonnière in the 1560s, which aimed to establish a colony for French Protestants.

Le Moyne's skills as a draftsman were put to use in documenting the Timucua Indians and the environment of the Florida region. His works are among the earliest known European depictions of North American natural history and peoples. Unfortunately, the colony faced hostilities and scarcity of resources, leading to its eventual destruction by Spanish forces in 1565. Le Moyne managed to escape the massacre at Fort Caroline and returned to France.

After his return, Le Moyne settled in London, England, where he continued his work as an artist. He found a patron in Sir Walter Raleigh, who was interested in the New World. Le Moyne produced a series of watercolors depicting the plants and animals he had observed in Florida, as well as scenes of the Timucua people. These works were influential in shaping European perceptions of the American continent.

Le Moyne's surviving illustrations were later engraved and published by the Flemish publisher Theodore de Bry in 'Brevis narratio eorum quae in Florida Americae provincia Gallis acciderunt', which translates to 'A Brief Narrative of Those Things Which Befell the French in the Province of Florida in America'. This work was part of de Bry's 'Grand Voyages', a series of lavishly illustrated accounts of European explorations in the New World.

Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues passed away in London in 1588. Despite not being widely known during his lifetime, his legacy endures through his contributions to early modern cartography and ethnography. His detailed illustrations provide an invaluable glimpse into the life and environment of 16th-century North America and serve as critical historical records.