Hot-air balloons over countryside, 1785-1795.

Paintings on circular wooden snuff box lids. One picture is of a hydrogen balloon over a crowd in woodland. The other shows a hot-air balloon over a river and mill. Public balloon ascents began to be held in pleasure gardens after the first succesful balloon trips in Paris during 1783. These events attracted huge crowds and led to an explosion of ballooniana, or balloon art, expresed in paintings, prints and decorated ceramics as well as many other forms.