'Descent of the Great Balloon', 1836.

Coloured lithograph by A Ducote showing ten men travelling in a hot-air balloon. Speech bubbles show the men's concerns about the rapid descent of the balloon, which appears to have developed a leak near the top. The Irish harp on the gondola, and the ghost in the balloon, fuel this image as a comment on the decline of Ireland. Published by T McLean of London, 22 October 1836. Dimensions: 240mm x 330mm.