Departure of Blanchard and Jeffries' Balloon from Dover, January 7, 1785

January 1794

Not on view

On January 7, 1785, the French balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard and his American backer John Jeffries traveled from Dover to Calais in a gas balloon, becoming the first to cross the English Channel by air. Rowlandon shows spectators near the English coast excitedly watching their departure.

Artwork Details

Title: Departure of Blanchard and Jeffries' Balloon from Dover, January 7, 1785
Artist: Thomas Rowlandson (British, London 1757–1827 London)
Publisher: S. W. Fores (London)
Subject: Jean-Pierre Blanchard (French, 1753–1809)
Subject: John Jeffries (American, 1745–1819)
Date: January 1794
Medium: Hand-colored etching
Dimensions: Sheet (trimmed and laid down): 10 in. × 13 15/16 in. (25.4 × 35.4 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Gift of Paul Bird Jr., 1962
Object Number: 62.696.58
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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