Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier

Around 1782, the Montgolfier brothers became among the first to develop the European hot-air balloon, or globe aérostatique, as they called it. As they came from a family of paper manufacturers in southern France, the brothers used materials like paper and taffeta in their early experiments to create the large pockets for hot air. This drawing by Boilly captures the expressions and personalities of the two brothers. Joseph, the elder and purportedly shier sibling, is portrayed behind the outgoing Étienne.