Basil Smith: Balloon Giffard

Artist: Basil Smith
1925 -
Nationality: British
Artwork Year: 1984
Image Size: 7 by 6 inches
Overall Size: 10 by 9 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Hot Press Illustration Board

Throughout the history of recorded flight, many men have been honored as pioneers of aviation. One of these men was Henri Giffard, a brilliant French engineer who worked with balloons and dirigibles. Having gained fame in 1852 when he developed the first airship dirgible to achieve powered flight, Giffard turned his attention to balloons ... and in 1878 he created his last and greatest balloon for the Paris World's Fair. Called Le Grand Ballon Captif, Giffard's creation was the largest balloon ever constructed and stood thirty feet higher than the Arc de Triomphe. It took three full days to fill the massive balloon with 884,000 cubic feet of hydrogen which allowed the balloon to lift an incredible twenty-seven tons. The circular gondola suspended from the balloon was capable of holding fifty-two passengers and was attached to a two-thousand foot cable which was powered by a steam-driven winch. Located in the heart of Paris, the balloon was such a tremdous success it was said to have done more to increase public interest in aeronautics than any other balloon in history. In one thousand ascents, it treated no less than thirty-five thousand delighted passengers to a spectacular panoramic view of Paris and the surrounding area from its height of two-thousand feet.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® Trains & Boats & Planes & More Collection Description Card for the Balloon Giffard.

Artwork Copyright © 1984 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB09207

US$ Price: $950.00

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