About this artwork

The live volcano of Vesuvius is situated just to the east of Naples, and is one of the great natural wonders of Southern Italy. Turner visited it in 1819, but this study was influenced by the watercolours of John Robert Cozens that he had seen back in London. It does not, however, correspond exactly to any of Cozens’ own views of Naples. Turner seems to have followed Cozens more stylistically, particularly in his delicate blue-gray palette.

Updated before 2020

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Joseph Mallord William Turner

Joseph Mallord William Turner