The Seconda Macchina for the Chinea of 1785: A Pleasure Palace with an Air Balloon
1785
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1785
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Seconda Macchina for the Chinea of 1785: A Pleasure Palace with an Air Balloon is a 1785 ink by Francesco Barbazza, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a fancy, stage-like structure shaped like a palace. It has three levels, with people dressed in old-fashioned clothes walking around, climbing stairs, and watching a big balloon in the center. The top level has statues, columns, and a giant seashell decoration on top. The whole scene looks like a mix of theater and architecture, with tiny figures moving about. The balloon in the middle isn’t just decoration—it’s the main event. The text below says this was built for a special celebration in 1785, where people gathered to see it float. Want to know more? Look up etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
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