Painting of a volcano in eruption, titled 'Vesuvius in Eruption'. The volcano occupies the left two thirds of the paper. To the right the land drops away to reveal a view of the sea. A plume of lava and dark smoke erupts from the volcano's cone. A river of orange-yellow lava flows down the sides of the volcano and overland towards the foreground. The deep blue colour of the sky suggests that this is a nocturnal event. Made by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), c. 1774. Gouache on paper, mounted for display.

Exhibitions:

Publications

Title: Wright of Derby
Published Place: London
Copyright: The Tate Gallery
Published Year: 1990
Title: Joseph Wright of Derby 1734 - 1797
Sub-Title: An introduction to the work of Joseph Wright of Derby with a catalogue of drawings held by Derby Museum and Art Gallery. Published on the occasion of an exhibition commemorating the Bicentenary of the artist's death.
Published Place: Derby
Published Year: 1997
Title: Joseph Wright of Derby: Painter of Light
Sub-Title: Volume 1
Volume: 1
Published Place: London
Copyright: Benedict Nicolson, 1968
Published Year: 1968
Title: Wright in Italy
Sub-Title: Joseph Wright of Derby's Visit Abroad, 1773-5
Published Place: Sudbury
Published Year: 1987
Title: Joseph Wright of Derby: Painter of Light
Sub-Title: Volume 2
Volume: 2
Published Place: New Haven and London
Published Year: 1968
Title: Volcano
Sub-Title: The Volcano in Western Art: A Brief Introduction
Published Place: Warwickshire
Published Year: 2010
Title: Thomas Jones (1742-1803): An Artist Rediscovered
Published Year: 2003

Related People

Joseph Wright of Derby (Artist)
Display Date: British, 1734 - 1797
Nationality: British
Biography: Artist.

Vesuvius in Eruption

Date: c. 1774

Medium: Gouache on paper.

Object Type:	Painting
Dimensions:	Support: 337 × 486 mm (13 1/4 × 19 1/8 in.)
Description:	Nicolson suggests that this gouache was painted on the spot [see B. Nicolson, 'Joseph Wright of Derby: Painter of Light' (1968), p.76]. Fraser points out that the vivid and free execution of the painting might suggest it was an eye witness record of an actual eruption. However, he notes that none of Wright's oil paintings of Vesuvius correspond with the gouache study, which feels much less composed than these works [see D. Fraser, 'Wright in Italy' (1987), p.11]. Egerton follows Nicolson and Fraser in feeling that the painting was made on the spot, but notes that the attribution to Wright (whilst not doubted), is hard to prove since no other gouaches by him are known [see J. Egerton, 'Wright of Derby' (1990), p.148]. However, Egerton noted elsewhere that there are no precise records for behaviour of Vesuvius while Wright in Naples. Quotes William Hamilton as recording it as being active, including lava flow (which he termed an ‘eruption’) so possible that the gouache did represent at least some of what JW saw. But probably not as violent as shown in Tate or Aberystwyth oil paintings. Egerton (like Hamilton below) notes that JW’s imagination assisted by works by Volaire and Fabris (who made paintings to accompany William Hamilton’s letters to the Royal Society). [Egerton, ‘Wright of Derby’ (1990), p.166.] James Hamilton notes that there is no evidence that Vesuvius erupted during Wright's visit, despite the dramatic scene shown in is gouache study. He points out that, while the 1770s was a period of occasional activity, Wright had returned home by the time of 1778 eruption. He suggests that the study may be an 'imaginative invention'. Notes that JW influenced by Volaire’s paintings of Vesuvius – his paintings much sought-after. Constrasted ‘lava-light’ and moonlight in bold and accomplished manner. [J. Hamilton, 'Volcano' (2010), p.10-11.]
Provenance:	...; Herbert Cheney Bemrose; thence to his wife, Florence May Bemrose (nee Prince); thence to her second husband, Major Lousada, by whom bequeathed to Derby Museums in 1954.
Viewing Status:	Contact Us
Item Ref:	1954-224/1

Exhibitions:

Publications

Related People

Joseph Wright of Derby (Artist)