Axial Commons Image Treasury
Painting of a night volcanic eruption with glowing orange lava flowing down a dark cone, small figures on the slope, and a moonlit bay under clouds.

The Eruption of Vesuvius

A night eruption of Vesuvius shows a glowing cone spewing fiery smoke into a dark sky, with rivers of orange lava spreading across the foreground. Small figures stand on the lower slopes, and a moonlit bay stretches toward the distance under scattered clouds.

Artist
Pierre-Jacques Volaire
Date
1771
Medium
Oil on canvas
Source
Art Institute of Chicago
Size
1686 × 776 px
Download full size
Public domain · Art Institute of Chicago releases this image under CC0 (latest date 1771).
Rights checked 2026-11-05 · tier A · as stated by the source: CC0 (Art Institute of Chicago, is_public_domain=true)

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): Art Institute of Chicago, Charles H. and Mary F. S. Worcester Collection

Español: La erupción del Vesubio

Una erupción nocturna del Vesubio muestra un cono brillante que lanza humo encendido hacia un cielo oscuro, con ríos de lava anaranjada extendiéndose en primer plano. Pequeñas figuras se encuentran en las laderas bajas, y una bahía iluminada por la luna se extiende al fondo bajo nubes dispersas.

Português: A erupção do Vesúvio

Uma erupção noturna do Vesúvio mostra um cone incandescente lançando fumaça em chamas contra um céu escuro, com rios de lava alaranjada espalhando-se no primeiro plano. Pequenas figuras estão nas encostas baixas, e uma baía iluminada pela lua se estende ao fundo sob nuvens esparsas.

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