The Eruption of Vesuvius
Sebastian Pether
English, 1790–1844
Oil on wood panel (1825)
This dramatic scene of Mount Vesuvius emphasizes the grandeur and terror of lava against the night sky. Sebastian Pether traveled to Naples, Italy, to paint the volcano, which erupted in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
The volcano’s activity allowed artists like Pether to imagine its destruction of the Roman city of Pompeii in 79 c.e. Rather than depicting a contemporary scene, in this painting he represented the only eyewitness account of the historic eruption as described in an ancient letter by Roman author Pliny the Younger.
So incredibly intense and dramatic
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It really is.
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Really beautiful rendering of the clouds but I have to admit my first impression was it reminds me of an HDR photo.
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I can see that, very photo like.
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wow, hadn’t seen this painting. It’s scarey and gorgeous
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I agree, thanks.
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This painting is just sitting incredibly beautiful and powerful that it brings tears from a brimfilled heart.
Thank you for introducing it.
miriam
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I’m glad you liked it, thanks Miriam. 🙂
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This is a great painting. And hits home because I visited Pompeii last fall. Exactly like I imagined it to have been.
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He captured it well then. 🙂
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