Vesuvius in Eruption

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Artist: J. M. W. Turner (British, 1775–1851)
Medium: Watercolor, gum, and scraping out on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper
Size: Sheet: 11 1/4 x 15 5/8 inches (28.6 x 39.7 cm)
Museum: Yale Center for British Art
Rights: CC0 — no rights reserved

With showers of molten magma creating the impression of a vast firework display, this view shows Turner’s remarkable ability to recreate nature’s intensity through his own imaginative powers. It was a fitting subject to showcase his growing technical skill: by the early nineteenth century, depictions of Mount Vesuvius in eruption had become the epitome of the artistic sublime.

This strand of imagery emphasized the luminosity of the volcano’s lava by placing it against the enveloping darkness of the night. Turner’s view clearly derives from this formula — indeed, it was not until nearly two years later that he first visited Italy. However, he redeploys it to unprecedently spectacular effect, once again emphasizing his determination to outdo his predecessors.

Text: Yale Center for British Art.