A mechanical artwork created in 1775 to portray the eruption of Italy’s Mount Vesuvius has been brought to life for the first time.
A remarkable mechanical artwork first envisioned in 1775 to capture the eruption of Italy’s Mount Vesuvius has been realized for the very first time, 250 years after it was imagined. This modern recreation became possible through the use of advanced technology and the creativity of two engineering students from the University of Melbourne.
The original idea came from Sir William Hamilton, who served as the British ambassador to Naples and Sicily between 1765 and 1800. A devoted vulcanologist, Hamilton sought to merge art with scientific curiosity, designing a mechanism that could recreate the vivid spectacle of volcanic activity through mechanical movement and light.
Inspired by the 1771 watercolor Night View of a Current of Lava by British-Italian artist Pietro Fabris, the modern version brings Hamilton’s concept to life using light and motion to mimic glowing lava streams and eruptive bursts. Although there is no evidence the original device was ever constructed, a detailed sketch preserved in the Bordeaux Municipal Library provided the crucial reference needed for today’s reconstruction.
“It is fitting that after 250 years exactly, our students have brought this dormant project to life,” he said.
“It is a wonderful piece of science communication. People around the world have always been fascinated by the immense power of volcanoes.”
