Rare Gouache Miniature - Attempted Channel Crossing By De Rozier On June 15, 1785

Rare gouache miniature -Pilâtre de Rozier's attempt to cross the English Channel on June 15, 1785.

Beautiful and rare miniature ingouache on laid paper, framed by a gilded fillet with gold leaf,depicting the tragic flight of the Tour de Calais, the so-called"during Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozière's historic attempt to cross the English Channel.Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and Pierre-Ange Romain, on June 15, 1785.
The composition is faithfullyby Charles Eschard (1748-1810), published in Paris by Le Campion inParis by Le Campion in 1785. On the left is the crenellated tower of Calaiswith a red flag and a crowd of spectators in Louis XVI costume.in Louis XVI costume; in the center, the stormy sea with its swirling wavesand boats; against the cloudy sky, La Rozière in all its decorative splendorgreen-and-brown-striped envelope, finely detailed gilded nacellewith a floating blue ribbon at her side, a poetic touch added by theadded by the artist.
The execution is of great finessefinesse: the figures are treated in the manner of the small 18th-centurymasters of 18th-century vedute, the rendering of the clouds and sea testifies to the artist'smastery of the gouache medium, and the gold-leaf framing, characteristic of latecharacteristic of cabinet miniatures from the late 18th century, lends the whole aappearance of a fine collector's item.

Note that this flight of June 151785 has gone down in history as the first fatal air accident:Pilâtre de Rozier and Romain perished in the crash of their aircraft, a few kilometreskilometers from their point of departure, becoming the first victims ofhuman aerial adventure.On the reverse of the work, a handwrittenhandwritten annotation in ink on period paper authenticates and clarifies thethe subject with overwhelming sobriety: "Essai de la traverséethe English Channel on June 15, 1785 by Pilâtre de Rozier and Romain.Wimille (Pas de Calais) where they perished."
This contemporary inscription,probably in the hand of a witness or collector of the period,adds a rare documentary and emotional dimension to this piece, andand constitutes a precious element of provenance.

10 × 7 cm image only
Late 18th or early 19th centuryearly 19th century (circa 1785-1810)
Signature J. Carlet ? lower leftleft

Presented in a small naturalnatural wood.
An exceptionalwith precisely dated aeronautical iconography, rare in miniature format.enriched by a handwritten annotation from the period.