Basil Smith: Austrian Hot Air Balloon

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

Almost from the time of recorded history, it seems that mankind has had a dream to conquer the air through flight. From the legendary Icarus, who flew too close to the sun in Greek mythology, to the present, flight has been a passion for many. This passion began in earnest in the late 1700s when the first unmanned balloon flights were made in Europe. One of those caught up in the balloon madness was a young pyrotechnician, Johann Georg Stuwer of Vienna, Austria. Stuwer designed and constructed a large cylindrical hot air balloon out of linen. He then rigidly attached a wooden ship to the balloon rather than the normal balloon basket. On July 6, 1784, Kaspar Stuwer, son of Johann, and three other persons rose from the launch platform in Austria's first manned balloon. A crowd estimated at fifteen thousand watched as the balloon floated to a great height while securely tethered by a strong rope. Several weeks later during another series of launches, the tethering rope broke and Kaspar Stuwer made a rather involuntary free balloon flight, landing safely on the shore of the Tabor Danube. Through the years, balloons have continued to be popular in Austria. Interestingly, Austria is the only country in the world since 1948 that has regularly carried out balloon mail flights.

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

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): XB09238

US$ Price: $950.00

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