Sea at the bottom of Vesuvius 

Mariano Fortuny Marsal created this watercolor painting of the sea at the bottom of Vesuvius sometime before his death in 1874. A vision in tranquil blues and whites, it appears to be a simple seascape, yet it reflects a moment of significant cultural and institutional transition. Painted in Italy during a period of immense political change, after it became a nation state, Fortuny's painting represents a break from earlier grand, historical narratives. Instead, it focuses on the transient beauty of the natural world and the pleasures of modern life. The active brushwork and emphasis on light show the influence of new aesthetic movements. Fortuny, as an artist with international appeal, moved easily within the art market that was then expanding across Europe. To fully understand Fortuny's painting, one might investigate the market for seascapes during this period. A historian might consider how the painting reflects shifting social values and the rise of a new, mobile, cosmopolitan class. In doing so, we can reveal the complex interplay between art, society, and history.