Today's top picks
Collection of the day
Art discovered by Luciano Benetton on his travels around the world
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Stay contemporary
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Dio mio!
The eruption of Vesuvius in 1771 left a lasting impression on French painter Pierre-Jacques Volaire. So much so that he painted the scene thirty times!
Run away
These citizens of 18th-century Naples can be seen fleeing the lava flow and ash, salvaging what they can in the confusion. Vesuvius's last eruption was in 1944.
A painting of two halves
Volaire depicts nature's contrasting moods: the serene, moonlit bay beside the fiery terror of the volcano.
A molten river
Vesuvius was a popular subject for Romantic artists – the volcano embodied nature's dramatic moods and unpredictable power.
"Save us!"
A man holds up a picture towards the erupting volcano – most likely an image of St. Janarius, the protector of Naples.
Who painted this garden?
Clue: he is one of the founders of French impressionism
Claude Monet
The Water-Lily Pond' by Claude Monet, The National Gallery, London
