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GLOBE AËROSTATIQUE. DÉDIÉ À MONSIEUR CHARLES.

Creator(s): Claude-Louis Desrais (Artist) , Denis (Engraver) , Jacques Chereau (Printer)

On view in: Ladies Powder Room


About this object

Balloon has red and yellow vertical stripes. The boat-shaped gondola is lined in red, and on the end facing the viewer can be seen a blue medallion with three fleur-de-lis and a crown. J.A.C. Charles stands in the gondola waving a white banner. Surrounding this is a winter landscape with cloudy skies, leafless trees, low hills, and a few buildings. Three horsemen approach in the right foreground (perhaps the English witnesses referred to in the inscription?) and a man with his back to the viewer and a dog stand at center, the man seemingly gaping in disbelief at the sight. The image represents Jacques Alexandre César Charles's reasencion from Nesle, France on December 1, 1783. He had landed there shortly before, accompanied by Marie Noël Robert, in the first hydrogen balloon flight from Paris, a journey of two hours. Robert, standing at left, is conversing with local vicars, who are signing a document attesting to the successful completion of the first manned gas balloon flight.

Object name:
GLOBE AËROSTATIQUE. DÉDIÉ À MONSIEUR CHARLES.
Made from:
Hand-colored etching on paper
Made in:
Paris, France
Date made:
1783-1784
Size:
25.4 × 29.8 cm (10 × 11 3/4 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
55.47
Class:
LITHOGRAPH
Signature marks:
INSCRIPTION at bottom: GLOBE AEROSTATIQUE Dedié à Monsieur Charles. Cette machine est representé ici s'elevant pour la seconde fois au milieu de la Prarie de Nesle ou il venoit de descendre, accompagné de Mr. Robert et en Présence de Mgr le Duc de Chartres, Mr. le Duc de Fitz-James, et de Mr. Farer Gentilhomme Anglois, Mr. Robert Présente le Procès Verbal à signer aux Curés d'Hedonville et de Nesle Par son très Humble et très Obeissant Serviteur Basset. A Paris chez Basset rue St. Jacques au coin de celle des Mathurins.; on lower left margin: Descais ? del. ;on lower right margin: Denis sculp.
Credit line:
Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973