Credit: © The Royal Society
                             
                         
                     
                         
                         
                             
                                 Image number: RS.9094
                             
                         
                         
                     
                 
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            Vesuvius erupting
                                Date
                            
                            
                                1780
                            
                            
                        
                            
                            
                            
                                Creator
                            
                            
                                Antonio Piaggio (Italian) , Clergyman
                            
                            
                        
                            
                            
                            
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                                Material
                            
                            
                            
                        
                            
                            
                            
                                Dimensions
                            
                            
                                height (drawing): 150mm
width (drawing): 201mm
                            
                        
                            
                            
                            width (drawing): 201mm
                                Subject
                            
                            
                            
                        
                            
                            
                            
                                Content object
                            
                            
                            
                        
                            
                            
                            
                                Description
                            
                            
                                Landscape study of Vesuvius erupting under a natural cloud base with smaller fumeroles and other details to the left of the volcano, as viewed. An observation of volcanic activity at Mount Vesuvius near the Bay of Naples, Italy, made by the artist on behalf of Sir William Hamilton. Numbered “117” and inscribed verso “alra Figa. de 5”.  From volume 1 of Piaggio’s notebooks for the period 1779-1781.     
                            
                            
                        
                            
                            
                            
                                Object history
                            
                            
                                From the diaries of Vesuvius observations by Antonio Piaggio (active 1755-1795).
Periodic written observations and pencil sketches of volcanic activity, kept by Fr. Piaggio, on behalf of Sir William Hamilton, Piaggio was based at the Madonna Pugliano near Resina at the western side of Vesuvius on the Bay of Naples, Italy. With an additional volume dedicated to the major eruption of 1779, (originally volume 1 of the sequence). The volumes have occasional inserted material, including a presentation letter from Sir William Hamilton to Sir Joseph Banks at the Royal Society, 14 June 1801.
                            
                        
                            
                            
                            Periodic written observations and pencil sketches of volcanic activity, kept by Fr. Piaggio, on behalf of Sir William Hamilton, Piaggio was based at the Madonna Pugliano near Resina at the western side of Vesuvius on the Bay of Naples, Italy. With an additional volume dedicated to the major eruption of 1779, (originally volume 1 of the sequence). The volumes have occasional inserted material, including a presentation letter from Sir William Hamilton to Sir Joseph Banks at the Royal Society, 14 June 1801.
                                Associated place