Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.17578

    'Little mountains'

    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
    Subject
    Content object
    nature
       > mountain
    Description
    View of the 'little mountains' raised by the eruption of Vesuvius in 1760. The mountains are painted from the foot of Mount Vesuvius, and William Hamilton has been painted into the foreground, dressed in a red overcoat. The island of Capri is visible in the distance.

    Plate 13 from Campi Phlegraei: observations on the volcanos of the two Sicilies by William Hamilton. The plate is inscribed ‘XIII’ in the top left corner.

    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
    <The World>
       > Europe
          > Italy
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