Eruption Gallery

Reconstructing Ancient Pompeii by Fortunino Matania

In front of the magnificent temple of Apollo: a reconstruction of Pompeii before the terrible eruption of 79 A.D. A scene drawn by Sphere special artist Fortunino Matania, done whilst visiting excavations of the ancient Roman town. Born in Naples, Matania had spent much of his childhood exploring Pompeii and his fondness and skill for historical reconstruction in later life was ignited by these early impressions. Here, the artist draws himself imagining Pompeii in its heyday. He writes in the caption, Beautiful Pompeii rose from the ruins as I looked at it. Date: 1921

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

View of Pompeii at the moment of the eruption of Vesuvius

View of Pompeii at the moment of the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D.79 showing residents fleeing in the streets near the large theatre, small theatre, Quadriportico dei Teatri, etc. Chromolithograph by Dietrich after an illustration by C. Gel from Antonio Niccolini's Pompeii: Views and Restorations (Pompeii: Essaies et Restaurations), published by Fausto Niccolini, Naples, 1898. Antonio was grandson of the architect Antonio Niccolini Sr. View of Pompeii at the moment of the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D.79 showing residents fleeing in the streets near the large theatre, small theatre, Quadriportico dei Teatri, etc. Chromolithograph by Dietrich after an illustration by C. Gel from Antonio Niccolini's Pompeii: Views and Restorations (Pompeii: Essaies et Restaurations), published by Fausto Niccolini, Naples, 1898. Antonio was grandson of the architect Antonio Niccolini Sr. Date:

© Florilegius/Mary Evans

The Bird of Paradise by Richard Walton Tully

The Bird of Paradise by Richard Walton Tully. First produced in England Lyric Theatre on the 11th September 1919. The setting is Hawaii. The volcano features in Act III. The Times commented: You are shown the very crater of the volcano in full eruption - a remarkable achievement of theatrical engineering, which seemed to shake the walls of the Lyric. Date: 1919

© The Michael Diamond Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library