Military commanders along with artists and field archaeologists have long sought the advantage of having a bird’s-eye view of the vast and expansive terrain that surrounds them. Hot-air balloons fulfilled this desire and were used for aerial reconnaissance missions by the French Aerostatic Corps during the Battle of Fleurus in 1794. As hot-air balloons became more accessible to the public, an innovative English artist, Thomas Baldwin, used a balloon to produce panoramic drawings of the small town of Chester in the eighteen hundreds. He provided his patrons and local citizens with stunning views of the tranquil landscapes around them.