Charming naive school oil on canvas depiction of the ascent of Charles Green’s Nassau Balloon from Cremorne House, Chelsea in 1845
Painter unknown, England circa 1850
This painting was originally offered for sale in 1936 part of a consignment of 12 ballooning pictures from the Rt. Hon. Kathleen, Countess of Drogheda at “Messrs. Christie, Manson & Woods at their great rooms 8 King Street, St. James’s Square, London, S.W. 1
(on Friday, November 27, 1936′ at one o’clock precisely 🧐) From the Illustrated London News 1845:
ASCENT OF THE NASSAU BALLOON.
On Monday evening, Mr. Green made a very beautiful ascent in his monster Nassau Balloon, from the grounds of Cremorne House, Chelsea, which were crowded with company to witness the spectacle. There was on the occasion of this ascent some novelty to attract the spectators and to amuse them. In addition to Mr. Green, to Lord George Beresford, and an officer of the 1st Regiment of Life Guards, to one or two other gentlemen, and to Mrs. Green and another lady, there was amongst the “intrepid aeronauts” the celebrated Mr. Thomas Matthews, the Clown of Drury Lane Theatre, who immediately before the ascent favoured his companions in the car, and the thousands of persons who surrounded it, with the favourite ballad of “Hot Codlins.” Mr. Matthews was equipped in fall theatrical costume; the rest of the party in clothes more appropriate for an aerial trip. The ascent was a fine one; it took place shortly before 7 o’clock, the wind blowing lightly from the west.
