Framed, colored etching on paper. Untitled, 1783. Piece depicts scene of a mass crowd watching the launch of the Montgolfier brother's balloon on September 19, 1783. The blue and gold balloon appears to fill the majority of the sky, with clouds behind the apparatus. The ascent took place at the Palace of Versailles in France and the royal family was present for the launch. No human passengers were aboard this first balloon, only a duck, a rooster, and a sheep that were tucked inside a cage made of wicker. All three of the animals survived and helped to demonstrate that balloon flight was safe for humans. Created by Digitized by Tiffany Priest Date Created 06/14/2022 Source Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Keywords Art; Aviation Rights and Restrictions Not determined
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