George Sottung: Hot Air Ballooning

Artist: George Sottung
1927 - 1999
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1991
Image Size: 16.25 by 12.25 inches
Overall Size: 19.34 by 17.25 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Hot Press Illustration Board

Pioneer aviator Wilbur Wright believed that our desire to fly stemmed from ancient man's envious observation of birds soaring "on the infinite highway of the air." During the Age of Reason, man dared to experiment with flight and used balloons for his early investigations. In 1783 Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier launched an unmanned balloon. Several months later they sent skyward a balloon which carried as passengers a sheep, a rooster and a duck. The first manned balloon flight took place in November of 1783, when Jean-Francois Rozier and Francois Laurent burned wool and straw to keep their hot-air balloon aloft during its five mile journey. Balloons soon played important roles in the military and scientific arenas, providing reconnaissance information and weather data. In 1906 international long-distance trophy competitions sparked fervent interest in sport ballooning, but the recreation proved too expensive for common folk and it suffered a decline in popularity which lasted until the 1960s. Mass production of plastic, nylon and polyethylene balloon materials and propane burners rejuvenated the sport, and today balloon clubs exist worldwide to accommodate both gas and hot-air balloon aficionados. The design on this artwork depicts four colorful balloons floating amid a tranquil sky's wispy clouds. It celebrates and salutes this popular sport and its dedicated enthusiasts.

This artwork originally appeared on the Fleetwood® First Day of Issue Maximum Card for the U.S. 19¢ Ballooning booklet stamp issued May 17, 1991.

Artwork Copyright © 1991 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): XB12984

US$ Price: $1,300.00

Easy Purchase Plan: Buy this ArtworkOriginal with 8 monthly payments. Shipping and handling will be added to the first payment. Payments will be charged automatically as due to your Credit Card.

How to buy Original Artwork:

If you would like to buy Original Artwork, there are several convenient ways:

Use The Artwork Gallery: simply click the "Hang in Gallery" for pictures of interest. This puts the picture in your Personal Artwork Gallery, where you can view or remove it. When you've finished hanging artwork in your Personal Artwork Gallery, Go to your Personal Artwork Gallery and select an option for contacting us or ordering from us from there.

To get in touch with us directly about a piece of Artwork by Phone note the SKU and dial TOLL FREE 1-800-443-4225 from throughout U.S. and Canada.