Jacques Antoine Volaire
French, 1729­after 1793
The Eruption of Vesuvius
1771
Oil on canvas
116.8 x 242.8 cm
Charles H. and Mary F. S. Worcester Collection, 1978.426

The volcano Mt. Vesuvius in Italy was the artist’s favorite subject. Vesuvius had erupted in 79 A.D., destroying the city of Pompeii. The artist, who spent many years living near Pompeii, was fascinated by the volcano and painted its eruption many times from his imagination.

Then on May 14, 1771, Vesuvius erupted again, and the artist immediately went to the mountain to record the event. How many people are watching the lava flow? What light shines on the scene?