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Mrs. Letitia Sage, first Englishwoman to ascend in a balloon
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Mrs. Letitia Sage, first Englishwoman to ascend in a balloon
The Parachute or a Sage Ladys Second Experiment. A rather saucy 18th century cartoon by Thomas Rowlandson which depicts Mrs. Letitia Sage, the first Englishwoman to ascend in a balloon. Date: 1785
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Media ID 13094450
© The Royal Aeronautical Society (National Aerospace Library)/Mary Evans Picture Library
1785 Ascend Ascends Balloon Ballooning Bare Behind Bottom Coarse Englishwoman Experiment Hanging Hangs Ladder Letitia Onlookers Parachute Rear Revealed Revealing Ribald Rowlandson Sage Saucy Skirt Skirts
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In this lively and humorous 18th century cartoon by Thomas Rowlandson, titled "The Parachute or a Sage Lady's Second Experiment," we find Mrs. Letitia Sage, the first Englishwoman to ascend in a hot air balloon, making history once again. The year is 1785, and the audacious Mrs. Sage, dressed in a revealing, bare bottomed skirt, is shown hanging from a ladder, her hat askew, as she prepares to make a daring leap from the basket of her balloon. The onlookers below, a raucous crowd of men, eagerly anticipate the outcome of her latest experiment - the use of a parachute to make a safe descent. The ribald humor of this caricature is evident in the lewd expressions and suggestive gestures of the onlookers, who seem more interested in Mrs. Sage's exposed rear than in the groundbreaking achievement taking place before their eyes. The cartoonist, Thomas Rowlandson, masterfully captures the excitement and intrigue surrounding early ballooning, as well as the coarse humor of the time. Despite the saucy and revealing depiction, Mrs. Letitia Sage's place in history as a pioneering figure in ballooning is undeniable. Her daring exploits paved the way for future aviators and continue to inspire us with their spirit of adventure and innovation.
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