''Saphir'' was a French

slave ship Slave ships were large cargo ships specially built or converted from the 17th to the 19th century for transporting slaves. Such ships were also known as "Guineamen" because the trade involved human trafficking to and from the Guinea coast ...

that operated out of

La Rochelle La Rochelle (, , ; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''La Rochéle''; oc, La Rochèla ) is a city on the west coast of France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department. Wi ...

in France.

Slave voyages

''Saphir'' completed two slave voyages. The first in 1737 and the second in 1741. During the second voyage the wind did not blow leaving the crew and enslaved people stranded at sea without sufficient food and water. A revolt by the enslaved people erupted.

Painting

''Saphir'' was painted by an unknown artist in 1741, the painting is located in the Sailors Chapel of Saint Louis Cathedral in La Rochelle, France. It is a protected national object owned by the government of France. The painting is

ex-voto An ex-voto is a votive offering to a saint or to a divinity; the term is usually restricted to Christian examples. It is given in fulfillment of a vow (hence the Latin term, short for ''ex voto suscepto'', "from the vow made") or in gratitude o ...

and depicts the ship in control of the enslaved people who are offering gifts to a divinity.

Documentary

A French documentary film about the ship was released in 2015. The film is called ''Sapphire of St. Louis'' and was directed by

José Luis Guerín José Luis Guerín (born 1960) is a Spanish filmmaker and educator known for '' Train of Shadows'' (1997), ' (2001), and '' The Academy of Muses'' (2015). Style and influences As a young cinephile, Guerín attended many film screenings, made fil ...

References

{{reflist Slave ships