Title
Hydrogen balloon crash in Gonesse after taking off from the Champs de Mars on 27th August 1783
Caption
Small painted image
Hydrogen balloon crash in Gonesse after taking off from the Champs de Mars on 27th August 1783.
Watercolour enhanced with gouache, framed (diameter 15 cm)
Muller-Quênot Collection
Info+
On 27th August at five o'clock, a gunshot announced the beginning of the experiment. The balloon, free from its ties, rose rapidly into the sky to the amazement of the three hundred thousand spectators. Within two minutes it had already reached a height of 488 "toises".
The balloon landed in Gonesse after a three-quarter of an hour flight, it had covered five leagues, equivalent to sixteen kilometres.
The local farmers flocked to the fields, terrified at having witnessed the large, shapeless craft falling from the sky. Believing it was a sign of the devil, they called upon a priest to exorcise the cursed creature.
Date
18th century
Credit line
Photo12/Association Muller Quenot Rosheim
Reference
MQR10A00_164
License type
Rights managed
Available size
68,1Mb (5,2Mb) / 16,0in x 16,5in / 4799 x 4961 (300dpi)