Collection of the day

Art discovered by Luciano Benetton on his travels around the world

From Houseplants to a Plant House

Visit the Treehouse at The Alnwick Garden

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Post a poem

Poem Postcards

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Explore the Stonewall Inn

See the site in 3D with CyArk

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Meet an Opabinia

Hold it in your hand

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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.

The Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, Pierre-Jacques Volaire

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Explore 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

Museum spotlight

Pera Museum's three permanent collections, “Orientalist Paintings”, “Anatolian Weights and Measures”, and “Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics”, are at the heart of this distinguished museum in Istanbul.

See the collection