French artists created some of the earliest views of California. Laperouse’s expeditionary artist, Gaspard Duche de Vancy, drew the first view of California. In 1837, Jean-Jacques Vioget painted the first view of Yerba Buena, soon to become known as San Francisco.
Because of the early involvement of the French in California’s history, the contributions of French artists to California’s visual past create a sweeping panorama of the Golden State from the mission era to the turn of the twentieth century. Included in this heritage are some of the most widely recognized artists in California’s history, artists who created works of art depicting the State’s commerce, topography, and people. Today these works rank among the most memorable and significant records we have of California’s early history.