Crater
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
View inside the crater of Mount Vesuvius, 'which is above 200 palms deep'. The crater is composed of great and small fragments of lava and other volcanic matter. Figures are visible in the foreground and climbing towards the peak in the background.
Plate 14 from Campi Phlegraei: observations on the volcanos of the two Sicilies by William Hamilton. The plate is inscribed ‘XIV’ in the top left corner.
The crater is described in the associated text as being the 'principal chimney of the great Volcano'.
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 14 from Campi Phlegraei: observations on the volcanos of the two Sicilies by William Hamilton. The plate is inscribed ‘XIV’ in the top left corner.
The crater is described in the associated text as being the 'principal chimney of the great Volcano'.
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