Basil Smith: Montgolfier Hot Air Balloon 1783

Artist: Basil Smith
1925 -
Nationality: British
Artwork Year: 1983
Image Size: 7 by 6 inches
Overall Size: 10 by 9 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Hot Press Illustration Board

The history of transportation was abruptly changed when mankind first took to the sky during the very first manned flight which occurred in 1783. It all started one day as two French brothers -- Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier -- sat in front of their fireplace in France. As they watched smoke and sparks rise and swirl up their chimney, these two ingenious brothers felt certain that if they could somehow capture the mysterious "rising gas" produced by the burning fire, they could apply their knowledge and devise a way to use these hot gases to lift objects off the ground. Since the Montgolfier family was well established in the paper manufacturing business, it was simple for Joseph and Etienne to construct several small paper balloons to act as prototypes for a much larger balloon. After successfully testing their theory with these smaller balloons, the brothers constructed a gigantic hot-air balloon made of colorful linen. On November 20, 1783 the Montgolfers filled this huge balloon with the smoke and fumes of a smoldering fire. Then they released their large, buoyant airship and let it soar into the sky, carrying with it the first two humans to fly ... Francois Pilatre de Rozier and Francois Laurent, the Marquis d'Arlandes.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® Trains & Boats & Planes & More Collection Description Card for the Montgolfier Balloon.

Artwork Copyright © 1983 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB08320

US$ Price: $950.00

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