File:Original air balloon (BM 1868,0808.5070).jpg

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Original air balloon   (Wikidata search (Cirrus search) Wikidata query (SPARQL)  Create new Wikidata item based on this file)
Title
Original air balloon
Description
English: The ascent of a circular balloon, inscribed "America", is watched by spectators; there are two passengers in its basket. The names of the persons are shown by numbers referring to notes in the upper margin.


(1), "Spain" and (2) "France" stand (left) bound together by a chain held by a padlock inscribed "family Compact". France, lean and elegant, though grotesque, rests his right elbow on Spain's shoulder, he points upwards at the balloon, saying, "T'will be ours Soon"; within the label containing these words is a small butterfly. On the right stands (3) "Dr F--k--n" [Franklin] wearing ark spectacles; in his right hand he holds up a knife inscribed "Sedition", in the left is an oval mask, probably symbol of duplicity. He says "I've cut the bands that have long restraind my Ambition as poor Richard says", evidently implying that the ropes which held down the balloon America have been cut by him. The ground at Franklin's feet is inscribed, "Once British Colonys But now to be lett on Fighting Leases"; in front of him are the ends of two broken 'bands' cut by him, inscribed "Loyalty" and "Friendship". Behind Franklin (right) is (4) Holland, a clumsy Dutch burgher; he gazes at the balloon saying "I will profit by your inexperiance Mynheers"; from his pocket three small devils are emerging.
A stream divides these four persons in the foreground from groups on a much smaller scale. (5) and (6), "Chas F--x" and "L------ N-----th" dance together hand-in-hand, signifying the Coalition. Beside them, piping for their dance, is the Devil capering on one hoof; he is (7) "Director General". A group (left) of prostrate and despairing figures on a minute scale is weighted down by a rectangular block inscribed "Oppression", "Taxes". On this block a gallows stands, from which hang three corpses inscribed respectively "Trade", "Wealth", "Liberty". On the cross-beam of the gallows stands a small figure, (8), "Military Force of Gt B------n", who appears to be sending up small oval balloons or bladders, he stretches out his arms towards the large balloon, America; a label issues from his mouth inscribed "G------E H--WE C--T--N, B--G--E &c", evidently Gage, Howe, Carleton, Burgoyne.
To the balloon is attached a basket in which are two passengers: on the left (10), "Genl W--h--t--n" [Washington] stretches out his arms towards (11) "The Ghost of O Cromwell", who emerges from clouds on the left wearing armour and holding out a crown cut in half and a headsman's axe. Washington has two faces, one in profile to the left facing Cromwell, the other in profile to the right. On the right. of the basket is (9) "Silas D------ne" [Deane]
covering his face with his hands at (12) the ghost of "John ye Painter" emerging from clouds on the right and holding out a gallows. Deane's hair is rising in horror. 29 December 1783


Etching
Depicted people Representation of: James Aitken
Date 1783
date QS:P571,+1783-00-00T00:00:00Z/9
Medium paper
Dimensions
Height: 353 millimetres
Width: 248 millimetres
institution QS:P195,Q6373
Current location
Prints and Drawings
Accession number
1868,0808.5070
Notes

(Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935) 'John the Painter' was James Aitken, who set fire to the rope-house in Portsmouth dockyard (Dec. 1776) and to a warehouse at Bristol (Jan. 1777). His aim was to destroy the shipping and dockyards of England to ensure victory for America. He propounded his scheme to Silas Deane, the American envoy in Paris, and obtained some encouragement from him and a false French passport. He was executed at Portsmouth on 10 March 1777. A pamphlet in doggerel verse, 'John the Painter's Ghost', was published in 1777 attacking Lord Temple for his share in obtaining a confession from Aitken. Deane afterwards acted as a British agent (1781), see 'Corr. of George III', v. 200, &c. The only unfavourable representation of Washington in the collection, and one of the few satires hostile to the Americans, cf. BMSat 5329, 5401.

For balloons see BMSat 6333, &c.
Source/Photographer https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-5070
Permission
(Reusing this file)		 © The Trustees of the British Museum, released as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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current20:37, 9 May 2020Thumbnail for version as of 20:37, 9 May 20201,082 × 1,600 (375 KB)Copyfraud (talk | contribs)British Museum public domain uploads (Copyfraud/BM) Satirical prints in the British Museum 1783 #3,541/12,043

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