A dramatic painting of Mount Vesuvius erupting in 1774, created by an artist believed to have witnessed the event, is set to be auctioned next week. The work by landscape painter Jakob Philipp Hackert will go under the hammer at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh, with an estimated value of between £20,000 and £30,000.
Artist Witnessed the Eruption
According to a biography of Hackert penned by his friend, the renowned writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German artist personally observed the eruption in Italy. Courageously, he produced a series of live sketches and studies of the volcanic activity, which he later used as references for his paintings after returning to Rome, where he had settled in 1768.
The Grand Tour Era
The 1774 eruption occurred at the height of the Grand Tour's popularity, a journey undertaken by wealthy British and European travellers to explore classical sites across Europe. These travellers often collected souvenirs to commemorate their experiences, and views of Mount Vesuvius were especially sought after. Hackert (1737-1807) created multiple paintings of Vesuvius erupting, including the one being auctioned next week.
Artistic Significance
Romey Clark, associate fine art specialist at Lyon & Turnbull, highlighted the painting's unique qualities: "Hackert’s depiction is notable for its dramatic immediacy. Flames and molten lava burst violently from the crater while thick clouds of smoke billow upward into the night sky." Clark added that by positioning the viewer close to the action, Hackert moves away from traditional panoramic views of Vesuvius, offering a more concentrated and immersive vision of the eruption itself. The composition includes figures in the foreground, likely Grand Tour travellers accompanied by local guides, observing the spectacle from the volcano's slopes.
The painting will be auctioned on Wednesday, May 13, as part of Lyon & Turnbull's two-day Five Centuries sale. Clark expressed excitement about the auction, stating, "We’re excited to see what the painting fetches at auction."
