Exhibition: Pierre Loti-Gustave Viaud, two brothers united by the sea

One hundred years ago, on 10 June 1923, Pierre Loti, naval officer and writer, died. To mark this centenary, the City of Rochefort is offering a dedicated scientific and cultural programme throughout 2023 at a number of venues in the area. At its two sites in Rochefort, the Musée National de la Marine is presenting a double temporary exhibition looking back at the strong bond between Loti and his brother Gustave, both of whom were united by the sea and a maritime career.

At the Ancienne école de médecine navale, the exhibition focuses on Gustave Viaud, the elder brother of Julien Viaud, alias Pierre Loti. Trained at the Naval Medical School, he became a marine surgeon and was a great inspiration to the young Julien, giving him a taste for the world beyond and influencing his choice of a career in the Navy. Visitors are invited to enter the world of Gustave Viaud and to travel with him through the different periods of his life: his youth and training at the Naval Medical School, his stays in Tahiti and Cochinchina and, finally, his death at sea. The exhibition also features his photographs taken in Tahiti, which are also the earliest known photos of the island.

The exhibition is presented in the dedicated space on the ground floor.

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