An Eruption of Vesuvius
The Met
Artist: Johan Christian Dahl(Norwegian, Bergen 1788–1857 Dresden)
Date: 1824
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 37 x 54 3/4 in. (94 x 139.1 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Christen Sveaas, in celebration of the Museum's 150th Anniversary, 2019
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Volcanic eruption with glowing lava and smoke, figures observe a bay and city at twilight
Detailed Description
A wide landscape painting depicts a volcanic eruption at dusk. On the left, a steep, dark mountain slope is engulfed in bright orange and red lava flows that cascade downwards in multiple streams, glowing intensely against the dark rock. Above the lava, massive plumes of light brown, grey, and white smoke billow upwards, obscuring much of the upper mountain and sky on the left. The smoke is thick and textured, with hints of red and orange near the lava. In the lower center, a dark, rocky landscape extends, with more glowing lava visible in crevices and on the ground. Two small, dark figures stand on a rocky outcrop in the midground, observing the eruption. Further to the right, another group of figures, some with animals, are gathered on a dark, rocky path, also looking towards the volcano. The right side of the painting shows a wide vista. A large bay with several ships is visible, surrounded by a city with numerous buildings. Beyond the bay, rolling hills and mountains recede into the distance. The sky above the bay and city is a soft gradient of pale yellow, orange, and pink near the horizon, transitioning to light blue higher up, indicating twilight. The lava provides the most intense light source in the scene.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
