The twelve studies of Vesuvius (1872) is part of a series of studies of Mount Vesuvius by the known impressionist Italian painter Giuseppe de Nittis (1846-1884). During his unexpected stay in Naples in 1871-72 amidst Franco-Prussian war, Giuseppe climbed Vesuvius almost daily and created several studies of the volcanic landscape in multiple viewpoints, capturing its changing atmosphere. His diary ‘Taccino’, provides interesting insights into his daily observations and fascination towards volcanic activity. In this composition, the central focus is given to the volcanic mountain and its eruption. Patches of vegetation are shown on the bottom allowing the viewers to feel close to the ground and look at the mountain rising behind these patches. Further, the viewers can closely observe nature through Giuseppe’s fine rendition of the smoke and ashes erupting out of the volcano. The use of loose brushstrokes and thin colours indicate that the artist created the work on the spot (plen-air),one of the significant characteristics of Impressionism. The use of earthy brown, black, green and blue in the composition gives an impression of the natural colours of the mountain landscape as captured by Giuseppe at that time. Through these studies, Giuseppe chose to document nature through close observation. Rather than showing a dramatic composition, he expressed his interest in realism, direct observation and atmospheric effects in the work. The series is considered as one of the significant achievements of Giuseppe de Nittis’s artistic career and occupies an important place in the history of nineteenth-century Italian landscape painting.
How Giuseppe De Nittis was able to achieve such remarkable realism to his paintings is almost animated. What I, personally, loved about this painting is the way volcanic fumes are expressed. For a natural element which is as violent as a volcano to be depicted in soft pastels is an intuitive derive of how Nittis saw the world around him.
