Sir William Hamilton’s party on the island of Ponza

Plate 11 from the paper “Some particulars of the present state of Mount Vesuvius; with the account of a journey into the province of Abruzzo, and a voyage to the Isle of Ponza”, by Sir William Hamilton, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol.76 (1786), pp.365-381. Landscape view of the harbour on the island of Ponza in the Tyrrenian Sea, Italy. The scene shows local geology caused by volcanic action, notably solidified lava flows, being viewed by the felucca party of Sir William Hamilton (1731-1803). This group includes Hamilton directing the artist and workmen with hammers taking specimens of rock (lower left). Inscribed in ink above: “N.II View of part of the inside of the Harbour of the Island of Ponza.” In pencil: “Tab XI”. Signed below left: “Francesco. Progenie dis dal vero”. Inscribed below in ink: “1) Rock of Lava which in many parts is formed into regular small Basaltes of a reddish cast having probably been tinged with Iron ochre. Most of the detached rocks of this Island resemble this.”