Marble
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
Twelve specimens of polished marble and other mixed stones from Mount Vesuvius.
Plate 50 from Campi Phlegraei: observations on the volcanos of the two Sicilies by William Hamilton. The plate is inscribed 'L’ in the top left corner.
Written in the associated description: 'These variegated stones are never found in very large pieces; but are washed out of the strata of erupted matter that compose the cone of the volcano by the currents of water, and are found in deep ravies, particularly in the FOSSA GRANDE. (See PXXXIX.) It is probable that the volcanick fire that raised Mount Vesuvius vented itself through Veins of marble and scatter'd fragments of them on every side'
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 50 from Campi Phlegraei: observations on the volcanos of the two Sicilies by William Hamilton. The plate is inscribed 'L’ in the top left corner.
Written in the associated description: 'These variegated stones are never found in very large pieces; but are washed out of the strata of erupted matter that compose the cone of the volcano by the currents of water, and are found in deep ravies, particularly in the FOSSA GRANDE. (See PXXXIX.) It is probable that the volcanick fire that raised Mount Vesuvius vented itself through Veins of marble and scatter'd fragments of them on every side'
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