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group of gesticulating figures and a shattered tree that dance in
silhouette as a foil to the devastating explosion.
Among the British artists who, like Wright of Derby, visited
Naples in the mid- and late eighteenth century, were the Welsh-
man Thomas Jones (1742-1803)¹0 and, very briefly, the Scot
Jacob More (1740-1793). Wright visited Naples for only about
four weeks, from early October to early November 1774, and
was for part of that time a guest of Sir William Hamilton. Four
weeks in Naples furnished Wright with material if not for a life's
work then certainly for a brave posthumous reputation. During
his time there, Vesuvius performed for Wright magnificently, as
he told his brother Richard in a letter from Rome: 'there was a
very considerable Eruption at the time, of which I am going to
make a picture - Tis the most wonderful sight in nature.'¹¹ The
vivid gouache
Vesuvius in Eruption
is undoubtedly an immediate
record of the eruption that Wright witnessed.¹²
Wright suffered from melancholy or, as he called it, 'torpor':
'I have now dragged over four months, without feeling a wish to
Pierre-Jacques Volaire,
Vesuvius Erupting at
Night
, 1770s, oil on
canvas.
Joseph Wright of Derby,
Eruption of Vesuvius
,
1774, gouache.
Image not available - no digital rights
