Crater of Astruni
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 into the crater of Astruni, painted from the entrance of the volcano. The lake is 'about six miles in circumference and is surrounded with a wall to confine wild Boars and Deer, that are kept there for the diversion of His Sicilian Majesty.' Two figures are visible in the foreground, and the keeper's lodge is visible on a section of the cone in the background.
Plate 20 from Campi Phlegraei: observations on the volcanos of the two Sicilies by William Hamilton. The plate is inscribed ‘XX’ in the top left corner.
Written in the associated description: 'The Cone of the whole of this volcano is composed of strata like those represented in P. XIX or of a tender Tufa [tuff], but in one part of it there is a considerable rock of lava.'
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 20 from Campi Phlegraei: observations on the volcanos of the two Sicilies by William Hamilton. The plate is inscribed ‘XX’ in the top left corner.
Written in the associated description: 'The Cone of the whole of this volcano is composed of strata like those represented in P. XIX or of a tender Tufa [tuff], but in one part of it there is a considerable rock of lava.'
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