French painter who is noted for his images of the voyage of exploration of Jean-Francois Galaup, comte de La Perouse in the late 18th century. After studying art in Vienna, Duché de Vancy exhibited in Paris and at the Royal Academy in London. He went on to complete portraits of European royalty and architectural views of Naples and Rome. As official artist Gaspard Duche de Vancy recorded the French voyage of explorer Jean Francois Galaup de la Pérouse, from 1785 to 1788. In 1786 he was the first professional artist known to have painted a view of California. He vanished with the expedition in Oceania in 1788. //