This grandiose aerostatic creature appeared in a number of variations around the year 1803 and was the most elaborate of the many balloon caricatures of the time. The original design was by the doctor and aeronaut Etieene Gaspard Robertson, who was born in Liege. Much of the equipment surrounding the vessel is self-evident and is rendered in careful and amusing detail. The cock on the crown is labelled “L’Observatorie”, so one imagines a lookout stationed in its head. Then moving down the balloon one might call attention to the disembodied wings (T,T), the floating beacon (C) on the left; the ship’s orchestra (Y) just below; the great gallery (D), with the tents for those on guard (6); the great telescope (2) on the “Stern” of the ship-like car and the cannon (4) on the prow for waking up the inhabitants of the cities below; the organ (3) just behind the cannon, “pour donner des serenades”. Hanging beneath the mighty ship, we have on the left the two-storied cage-quarters (R) for the ladies of easy virtue – the “filles faciles”, with the surgeon’s little house (S) just above it to the right; the great barrel “de matiere combustible” (Q) and slung out far to the right, the toilet (X). All in all, a most satisfactory floating phantasy.