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Satirical engraving on the fire of the balloon of Miolan and Janinet 1784 (1887). Artist: Gaston Tissandier
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Satirical engraving on the fire of the balloon of Miolan and Janinet 1784 (1887). Artist: Gaston Tissandier
Satirical engraving on the fire of the balloon of Miolan and Janinet 1784 (1887). French abbots Miolan and Janinet were ridiculed for their failed balloon ascent from the Jardin de Luxembourg. They had sold tickets to the event and crowds had gathered from six in the morning. However, by five in the afternoon the balloon had still not risen from the ground and the crowd became impatient. An angry mob attacked the balloon, tearing it to shreds and setting it alight. The two escaped unharmed, but the damage to their reputations was irreparable, and many lampoons and caricatures emerged shortly afterwards. Published in History of Balloons by Gaston Tissandier, Paris, 1887
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Aeronautics Angry Aviation Balloon Ballooning Burning Flame Flames Flight Gaston Gaston Tissandier Jardin De Luxembourg Jardin Du Luxembourg Luxembourg Palace Garden Tissandier Print Collector4
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This satirical engraving captures the chaotic scene that unfolded during the ill-fated balloon ascent of French abbots Miolan and Janinet in 1784. The artist, Gaston Tissandier, skillfully depicts the dramatic moment when an angry mob attacks the balloon, setting it ablaze. The failed flight took place in the Jardin de Luxembourg, where eager crowds had gathered since early morning after purchasing tickets for this anticipated event. As hours passed without any sign of liftoff, impatience grew among the spectators. Frustration reached its peak by late afternoon when the crowd's disappointment turned into anger. In a fit of rage, they tore apart the balloon and ignited it with flames of fury. Though Miolan and Janinet managed to escape unharmed physically, their reputations were irreparably damaged by this disastrous incident. Lampoons and caricatures mocking their failed attempt flooded Paris shortly thereafter. Tissandier's artwork serves as a poignant reminder of both human folly and society's tendency to ridicule those who dare to dream big but fall short. This vividly colored print transports us back to 18th-century France, offering a glimpse into an era when aviation was still in its infancy. Published in Gaston Tissandier's "History of Balloons" in 1887, this engraving not only documents a specific historical event but also reflects on broader themes such as ambition, public opinion, and resilience in the face of failure.
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