Vesuvius in Eruption with a View over the Islands in the Bay of Naples
Joseph Wright of Derby, 1776–1780

Wright embarked for Italy in 1773 and was greatly inspired by Vesuvius. In this work the entire cone of the volcano is red-hot; from an appallingly glorious vortex above it, an uncontrollable force of molten gold is shot like a rocket into the night sky. Wright contrasts the colours of the eruption with the moonlit water of the Bay of Naples, from which rise the dark shapes of the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida.
More information
Title of artwork, date
Vesuvius in Eruption with a View over the Islands in the Bay of Naples, 1776–1780
Date supported
1992
Medium and material
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
122 x 176 cm
Grant
75000
Total cost
950000
Art Funded by you FAQs
Contact us
If you have a question about a work of art in our archive, please contact the Programmes team. We’ll be happy to answer your enquiry.