Volcanic specimens
Date
1776
Creator
Pietro Fabris (1738, Italian) , Painter
Object type
Library reference
42888
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (plate): 210mm
width (plate): 385mm
height (page): 320mm
width (page): 452mm
width (plate): 385mm
height (page): 320mm
width (page): 452mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Specimens of 'a curious volcanick matter' taken from a road leading from the Pisciarelli spring to Mount Solfaterra, Pozzuoli.
Plate 43 from Campi Phlegraei: observations on the volcanos of the two Sicilies by William Hamilton. The plate is inscribed ‘XXXXIII’ in the top left corner.
Written in the associated description: 'The acid, and sulphureous vapour of the Solfaterra sofftens, and calcines in a manner every volcanick matter that it meet with, so that this vapour having acted upon may parts of the cone of the Solfaterra, has reduced the strata of Rapilli, fragments of lava &c. of which it is composed, to a fine white powder; the rain washing down this fine powder, and mixing the burnt matter of different colours together, forms a clay beautifylly variegated; this clay hardens on being exposed to the air.
[...]The Author communicated this observation to the ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON in his letter of the 5th of March 1771, as may be seen in the Philosophical Transactions'
William Hamilton (1730-1803) British diplomat, archaeologist and volcanologist was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1766 on the merit of his volcanic observations. He received the Copley Medal in 1770 for his 'Account of a Journey to Mount Etna'.
Pietro Fabris (1740-1792) was a British artist who accompanied Hamilton around Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius, and Lipari islands to document volcanic activities.
Plate 43 from Campi Phlegraei: observations on the volcanos of the two Sicilies by William Hamilton. The plate is inscribed ‘XXXXIII’ in the top left corner.
Written in the associated description: 'The acid, and sulphureous vapour of the Solfaterra sofftens, and calcines in a manner every volcanick matter that it meet with, so that this vapour having acted upon may parts of the cone of the Solfaterra, has reduced the strata of Rapilli, fragments of lava &c. of which it is composed, to a fine white powder; the rain washing down this fine powder, and mixing the burnt matter of different colours together, forms a clay beautifylly variegated; this clay hardens on being exposed to the air.
[...]The Author communicated this observation to the ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON in his letter of the 5th of March 1771, as may be seen in the Philosophical Transactions'
William Hamilton (1730-1803) British diplomat, archaeologist and volcanologist was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1766 on the merit of his volcanic observations. He received the Copley Medal in 1770 for his 'Account of a Journey to Mount Etna'.
Pietro Fabris (1740-1792) was a British artist who accompanied Hamilton around Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius, and Lipari islands to document volcanic activities.
Object history
This book of hand-coloured plates represents part II of Campi Phlegraei. It complements part I, which consists of letters only. Both were presented to the then President of the Royal Society, Sir John Pringle (1707-1782).
Associated place