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Secondary sourcePainting1854

Portrait of Samuel de Champlain

Louis Joseph César Ducornet · 1854

A 19th-century lithograph long presented as Champlain's portrait, though later shown to be based on an engraving of a different man.

This widely reproduced 'portrait' of Champlain was later proven not to be an authentic likeness of him.

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Oval-framed black-and-white lithograph portrait of a man with shoulder-length wavy hair and a moustache, wearing a dark dark-collared garment with a white collar and striped sleeves. Background shows a coastal town on a hill, a ship on water, and a drape. Printed title text below.
Louis Joseph César Ducornet, portrait print of Samuel de Champlain, 1854. Sainte-Geneviève Library.

About this source

What it is

This oval lithograph portrait, made in 1854 by Louis Joseph César Ducornet, shows a man identified as Samuel de Champlain, Governor General of New France. It is held today at the Sainte-Geneviève Library.

Why it matters

This image became the standard 'face' of Champlain used in books and monuments for generations. Later research showed it was actually copied from an earlier Moncornet engraving that depicted someone else entirely. This makes it an important lesson: no authentic portrait of Champlain is known to survive, and much of what people think he looked like is invention.

Look closer

  • Why might an artist in 1854, over 200 years after Champlain's death, create a 'portrait' of him?
  • What does it mean for history when a widely used image turns out to be false?
  • How can you tell from the image alone whether it was based on direct observation?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Samuel de Champlain on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Front cover of a dark red leather-bound book with a small gold-tooled emblem of a lion or griffin-like creature above the initials 'E' and 'T' in gold lettering, centered on the cover.Book

Primary source

Les Voyages du sieur de Champlain

Samuel de Champlain · 1613

Sepia-toned engraved map titled 'Carte geographique de la Nouvelle Franse' showing the Atlantic coast, rivers, lakes, and decorative borders with compass roses, sailing ships, sea creatures, Native American figures, and a coat of arms.Document

Primary source

Carte geographique de la Nouvelle Franse

Samuel de Champlain · 1612

Front cover of a dark brown leather-bound book with gold-tooled decorative corner ornaments and a thin gold border frame on each panel, with a patterned gold-tooled spine band across the middle. The cover is closed and shows no visible title.Book

Primary source

Des Sauvages, ou voyage de Samuel Champlain

Samuel de Champlain · 1603

Hand-drawn manuscript map on vellum showing a coastline with green-washed shorelines, pictorial hill relief, place names in handwriting, a compass rose, a decorative cartouche and a scale bar. Ink lines and wash on aged parchment.Document

Primary source

Descripsion des costs, pts., rades, Illes de la Nouuele France

Samuel de Champlain · 1607

First page of a handwritten French manuscript, Samuel de Champlain's testament, dated 1635. Cursive brown ink on aged yellowed paper with water stains, a stamp reading Archives Nationales, and a handwritten signature at the left margin. The text begins 'Au nom du Pere et du fils et du Saint Esprit'.Document

Primary source

Testament de Samuel Champlain

Samuel de Champlain · 17 November 1635

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