Vesuvius from the Bay of Naples
Medium
mezzotint in black
Dimensions
plate: 28.58 × 45.09 cm (11 1/4 × 17 3/4 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1974.53.26
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This striking mezzotint captures the dramatic silhouette of Mount Vesuvius rising above the shimmering waters of the Bay of Naples. Created in 1895 by British printmaker Frank Short after an original design by George Frederic Watts, the work exemplifies the Victorian era’s fascination with iconic landscapes that blend natural grandeur and historical resonance. Short, renowned for his mastery of reproductive printmaking, translated Watts’s vision into rich tonal depths that evoke the luminous atmosphere of the Italian coast. Mezzotint technique lends particular power to this image, allowing fo...