Axial Commons Image Treasury
Night eruption of Mount Vesuvius with glowing lava and dark smoke column, lightning in the sky, and figures on the shore.

Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, night of 8 August 1779

A night eruption shows a towering column of dark smoke shot through with glowing red and orange lava and sparks, with forked lightning streaking the sky. Below, a dark volcanic cone glows against the water, and small figures on the shore react to the blast, one raising a hand.

Artist
Fabris, Pietro, active 1756-1784.
Date
[1779]
Medium
Etchings Gouaches Paintings
Source
Wellcome Collection
Size
2156 × 4000 px
Download full size
Public domain · Wellcome Collection marks it Public Domain Mark; made by 1779.
Rights checked 2026-11-05 · tier A · as stated by the source: Public Domain Mark (Wellcome Collection)

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): Wellcome Collection

Night and DreamsVolcanoes, Fire and Disasters18th century1770s1779gouachelightningcoloured etchinglavavolcano eruptionnaplesvesuviusnight eruptionvolcanic landscape

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