Artwork Page for Mount Vesuvius at Midnight

Details / Information for Mount Vesuvius at Midnight

Mount Vesuvius at Midnight

1868

Albert Bierstadt

(American, born Prussia [now Germany], 1830–1902)
Culture
America
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
Framed: 62 x 77 x 9 cm (24 7/16 x 30 5/16 x 3 9/16 in.); Unframed: 42.6 x 60.7 cm (16 3/4 x 23 7/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of S. Livingstone Mather, Philip Richard Mather, Katherine Hoyt (Mather) Cross, Katherine Mather McLean and Constance Mather Bishop 1949.541
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

This painting is a smaller version of a much larger canvas that is now lost.

Description

For centuries, artists and tourists have been attracted to Mount Vesuvius, a volcano near Naples. While living in London in 1868, Albert Bierstadt heard that the volcano was active once again, and rushed immediately to Italy. It is not certain that he actually saw an eruption, although the resultant painting presents a convincing image of spewing lava and ash.
A horizontally oriented oil painting depicts a volcanic eruption at night. On the left, a mountain peak vents a vibrant orange and red plume into a dark sky as molten lava flows down its slopes. On the right, a pale moon shines through a swath of heavy clouds, casting a cool white light onto ruined structures. In the foreground, rocky terrain and bare trees reflect the volcano's fiery red glow and cool highlights.

Mount Vesuvius at Midnight

1868

Albert Bierstadt

(American, born Prussia [now Germany], 1830–1902)
America

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