Vesuvius

Vesuvius – the most beautiful disaster

Jan 26, 2024

The erupting mount Vesuvius in Italy is one of the most popular motives in modern art history, particularly throughout the 18. and 19. Century - at least as far as disasters go. Between 1766 and 1779 the volcano erupted several times, giving artists occasions to...

Physico-Theology: Disaster becomes beautiful

Jul 21, 2022

In her essay on the motive of Mount Vesuvius, Valerie Hammelbacher traces the beginning of the image of disaster in art history back to the Britsh enlightment and the philosophy of physico-theology. More often referred to as natural theology, this school of thought...