Alexandre Correard Paintings

Alexandre Correard was not primarily known as an artist but was a notable French geographer, engineer, and survivor of the infamous shipwreck of the frigate Méduse, which ran aground off the coast of today's Mauritania in 1816. His birth date is recorded as October 24, 1788, in Nîmes, France.

In the aftermath of the shipwreck, Correard, along with the ship's captain, Hugues Duroy de Chaumareys, and other survivors, endured a harrowing experience on a makeshift raft. The tragedy was later immortalized in Théodore Géricault's painting 'The Raft of the Medusa.' Correard's role in history is primarily due to his survival and his subsequent account of the event, which he co-authored with another survivor, Jean-Baptiste Henri Savigny. Their book, 'Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in 1816', detailed the horrific ordeal, including accounts of starvation, dehydration, and cannibalism among the survivors. The publication of this narrative not only drew public attention to the tragedy but also served to indict the French government for the incompetence and mismanagement that led to the disaster.

Correard's life after the Méduse ordeal saw him involved in various projects. He became a notable figure in the field of geography and contributed to advancements in the discipline. Despite the trauma of his past experiences, he continued to work on projects that involved travel and exploration. Correard died on December 1, 1857, in Versailles, France.

It is important to note that while Alexandre Correard is associated with one of the most dramatic maritime disasters of the 19th century, and indirectly with the art world through Géricault's painting, he himself was not known as an artist. His contributions to history are more aligned with his work as an engineer, geographer, and author.