• View of the Eruption of Vesuvius from the mole of Naples in the night of the 20th of Octr. 1767

Creator:

• Sir William Hamilton (1730-1803)

Description:

• Hand-colored aquatint From Campi Phlegraei: Observations on the Volcanoes of the Two Sicilies as They Have Been Communicated to the Royal Society of London Naples: sold by Pietro Fabris, 1776-1779

Curatorial Notes:

• If the beautiful inspires the peace of a nature controlled, the sublime instills the terror of a nature unleashed. This brilliant image of an exploding volcano reminds humanity of its own everlasting fragility. Despite attempts to tame the earth, settle and harvest its lands, we are always at its mercy. The small, dark figure in a boat has escaped the terror today, but once the fire has been put out, what of this Naples town will remain? And how long until the volcano unleashes destruction on the unsuspecting once again?

Photography:

• David Kelly Crow

Identifier:

• ark:/88435/9c67wt19k

Edm rights:

• No Known Copyright

Range label:

• Logical