The Montgolfier Brothers, Joseph-Michel (1740-1810) and Jacques Etienne (1745-1799)

This double portrait of the Montgolfier brothers must date to the middle 1790s because Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier died in 1799 while his older brother lived until 1810. The brothers invented the Montgolfière, globe airostatique or European hot air balloon. They succeeded in launching the first manned ascent to carry a young physician and an army officer into the sky on 21 November 1783. They were later ennobled with their father and brothers and sisters as de Montgolfier. Presumably Joseph, the elder of the two brothers, is depicted on the left next to Etienne in Boilly's portrait. Boilly chose a small oval format for this double portrait which may have been executed with illustration in a book or journal in mind.