Geyser during an eruption, Iceland
Date
1797
Creator
Francis Chesham (1749 - 1806, British) , Printmaker
Creator - Organisation
After
6th Baronet John Thomas Stanley (1735 - 1807, British) , Scientist
Object type
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (plate): 285mm
width (plate): 379mm
height (print): 342mm
width (print): 509mm
width (plate): 379mm
height (print): 342mm
width (print): 509mm
Subject
Description
Landscape view of a geyser during an eruption, Iceland. Four men with a dog observe the phenomenon from a distance and three men at close range at the edge of the crater. Mountainous landscape beyond.
Inscribed 'From a Drawing made on the spot in 1789. Engrav’d by F. Chesham. VIEW of the GEYSER as seen at the commencement of an ERUPTION. Published According to Act by N. Pocock, Great George Street, Westminster and W. Miller, Old Bond Street, 1797.'
Described ‘The Eruptions of the Geyser encrease in beauty and duration, as the steam occasioning them has to escape through greater quantities of Water in the Pipe & Bason, & when the latter is nearly filled, the Jets, from their projectile force being weakened, are seldom in the beginning, thrown up with great rapidity & sharpness, but are broken & spread out in their ascent - very little Steam appears to rise from the Water, when it is Still. Though immediately, after one of the Eruptions preceding the great one, when most still, its heat is greatest. Analysed by Dr,, Black of Edinburgh. an English Gallon of the Geyser Water, was found to contain. Caustic fossil Alkali...gr. 5: 56. Argillaceous Earth...2: 30. Siliceous Earth...31: 38. Common Salt...gr,, 14,,42. Glauberis salt exsiccated 8..57. See 3d. Vol. of Phil. Trans. R.S. Edinb.'
Inscribed 'From a Drawing made on the spot in 1789. Engrav’d by F. Chesham. VIEW of the GEYSER as seen at the commencement of an ERUPTION. Published According to Act by N. Pocock, Great George Street, Westminster and W. Miller, Old Bond Street, 1797.'
Described ‘The Eruptions of the Geyser encrease in beauty and duration, as the steam occasioning them has to escape through greater quantities of Water in the Pipe & Bason, & when the latter is nearly filled, the Jets, from their projectile force being weakened, are seldom in the beginning, thrown up with great rapidity & sharpness, but are broken & spread out in their ascent - very little Steam appears to rise from the Water, when it is Still. Though immediately, after one of the Eruptions preceding the great one, when most still, its heat is greatest. Analysed by Dr,, Black of Edinburgh. an English Gallon of the Geyser Water, was found to contain. Caustic fossil Alkali...gr. 5: 56. Argillaceous Earth...2: 30. Siliceous Earth...31: 38. Common Salt...gr,, 14,,42. Glauberis salt exsiccated 8..57. See 3d. Vol. of Phil. Trans. R.S. Edinb.'
Associated place