'Ascension of the Montgolfier Brothers' Balloon at Paris', 21 November 1783.

Watercolour and gouache painting. Designed by the French brothers Joseph-Michel (1740-1810) and Jacques-Etienne (1745-1799) Montgolfier, this hot-air balloon was used in the first manned free flight ascent on 21 November 1783. The balloon was painted blue and decorated in gold with the Royal cipher and signs of the Zodiac. It was 75 feet high and 49 feet in diameter, with a capacity of 79,000 cubic feet. It was flown by the scientist Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier who was accompanied by Francois Laurent, the Marquis d'Arlandes (1742-1809). After taking off from the gardens of the Chateau La Muette in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris, the balloon remained airborne for 25 minutes before landing safely at the Butte-aux-Cailles 8.5 km away.