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Vesuvius in eruption: PD.11-1997

An image of Painting
View image details Mirador icon - view image Mirador deep zoom IIIF Manifest IIIF Manifest Slow looking

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An image of Painting
An image of Painting
Current Location: Gallery 5

Titles

Vesuvius in eruption

Maker(s)

Painter: Lemonnier, Anicet Charles Gabriel

Entities

Categories

Notes

History note: James MacKinnon, from whom purchased

Measurements and weight

Height: 27.8 cm
Width: 36 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bought (1997) by The Gow Fund

Dating

1770s
Production date: AD 1779

Note

Lemmonier travelled to Italy in 1772 as a recipient of the Prix de Rome. Like many of his contemporaries, he was attracted to the dramatic sight of Vesuvius in eruption, and visited Naples and Vesuvius in 1779. This sketch, evidently painted on the spot, is remarkable for being painted so near the volcano that particles of ash are incorparated into the pigment.

School or Style

French

Materials used in production

Oil paint

Components of the work

Support composed of paper

Techniques used in production

Painting (image-making) : Oil on paper

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: 'D'après nature en 1779'
  • Location: Verso
  • Type: Inscription

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: PD.11-1997
Primary reference Number: 2757

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 15 October 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Vesuvius in eruption" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/2757 Accessed: 2025-12-05 23:02:30

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/2757 |title=Vesuvius in eruption |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 23:02:30|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/pdp/pdp76/large_PD_11_1997_201701_adn21_dc2.jpg"
        alt="Vesuvius in eruption"
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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Vesuvius in eruption</figcaption>
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