1846 Cierci View of Singapore City Chinese Campong

One of the earliest obtainable views of Singapore, this is Eugène Cicéri's 1846 view of Singapore drawn from original sketches and maps compiled during Jules Sébastien César Dumont d'Urville's (1790 - 1842) circumnavigation of the globe. The source sketches were created when d'Urville's ships, Astrolabe and Zélée, were at Singapore between June 27 and July 2, 1839.

Understanding the View

The view looks southward from Government Hill (Fort Canning Park) towards Singapore's Chinatown, the Chinese Campong, and the harbor. The widening of the Singapore River at its mouth is the large body of water in the mid-ground. In the distance, Thian Hock Keng Temple (天福宮, dedicated to Mazu, a Chinese sea goddess) notable for its bi-level hipped roof, is recognizable - although the temple was still under construction when d'Urville visited.

Singapore's Chinese Campong

When Stamford Raffles laid out the plan for Singapore in 1822, known as the Master Plan, he allocated the lands west of the Singapore River to serve as a Chinese community - known as the Chinese Campong (Kampong). The land was desirable, with good access to the port, and room to expand. Raffles correctly recognized that Chinese citizens would, in time, comprise the bulk of Singapore's population. The Campong was initially subdivided by Chinese immigrants according to dialect and provincial origin, but these later blended. The area began rapid development in the 1830s and 1840s, with the construction of the impressive Thian Hock Keng Temple, as well as new streets and businesses. Today it remains a crowded vibrant neighborhood.

D'Urville's Third Expedition of 1837 - 1840

Scarcely back from his Second Voyage, Jules Sébastien César Dumont d'Urville (1790 - 1842) immediately began canvassing for a third voyage - this time to the southern latitudes. Although he hoped to explore in the tropics (don't we all), King Louis-Phillipe was keen for a French voyage of discovery capable of rivaling Cook's achievements in the Antarctic. He was commanded to place the French flag as far south as possible in the Antarctic Waddell Sea. The crew was even promised a bonus of 100 francs when 75° South was attained. His two ships (Astrolabe under d'Urville and the Zélée under Charles Jacquinot) set sail from Toulon in September 1837. Along the way they visited New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Chile, Brazil, Tenerife, the Cape of Good Hope, and more. They crossed the Antarctic Convergence on January 16, 1840, and two days later found themselves in the middle of an ice sea. Pressing on, they hoisted the Tricolor at Cape Geodesie and the voyage hydrographer, Clément Adrien Vincendon-Dumoulin (1811 - 1858) prepared an impressively accurate map of the coast. There, they met the even more ambitious U.S. Exploring Expedition commanded by Charles Wilkes (1798 - 1877). Turning north again, the crew celebrated, popping champagne when they crossed the Antarctic Circle and sailed into warmer climes. Back in France, d'Urville was celebrated, promoted to rear-admiral, and awarded the gold medallion of the Société de Géographie - their highest honor. Two years later d'Urville and his family died in a tragic train derailment - France's first - on their way from Versailles to Paris.

Publication History and Census

This view was drawn by the Paris artist Étienne Eugène Cicéri based upon the original sketches compiled by the d'Urville Expedition (1837 - 1840) in 1839. It was engraved and printed by Thierry Frères in Paris for publication by Gide in d'Urville's Voyage au pole sud et dans l'Océanie sur les corvettes l'Astrolabe et la Zélée. Both the atlas volume of d'Urville's narrative (Atlas Pittoresque) and the separate views are extremely scarce. We have identified an institutional example in poor condition in the National Library of Australia, and another at the Library Board of Singapore.