Howard Koslow (1924 - 2016) "Double Eagle II" Signed lower right. Original Acrylic painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. Pioneer aviator Wilbur Wright believed that our desire to fly stemmed from ancient man's envious observation of birds soaring "on the infinite highway of the air." During the Age of Reason, man dared to experiment with flight and used balloons for his early investigations. In 1783 Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier launched an unmanned balloon. Several months later they sent skyward a balloon which carried as passengers a sheep, a rooster and a duck. The first manned balloon flight took place in November of 1783, when Jean-Francois Rozier and Francois Laurent burned wool and straw to keep their hot-air balloon aloft during its five mile journey. Balloons soon played important roles in the military and scientific arenas, providing reconnaissance information and weather data. In 1906 international long-distance trophy competitions sparked fervent interest in sport ballooning, but the recreation proved too expensive for common folk and it suffered a decline in popularity which lasted until the 1960s. Mass production of plastic, nylon and polyethylene balloon materials and propane burners rejuvenated the sport, and today balloon clubs exist worldwide to accommodate both gas and hot-air balloon aficionados. Image Size: 13.75 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20.75 x 17.25 in. Unframed. (B07870)