Rørbyes rejseselskab i Castellammare 1835

Martinus Rørbye created this pencil drawing of a travel group in Castellammare in 1835. Note the relaxed poses of the figures under the shade of a tree, juxtaposed with the looming presence of Vesuvius in the background. Consider how the umbrella here, ostensibly a simple tool against the sun, echoes motifs of protection and status seen across centuries. From ancient Egyptian depictions of royalty shaded by fans to Renaissance paintings of noblewomen shielded from the sun, the act of being sheltered speaks to a complex interplay of power and vulnerability. The volcano in the background, with its ominous symbolism, is a reminder of nature's unpredictable force, a visual symbol that carries the weight of past eruptions and future anxieties. This image captures the traveler’s ambivalent relationship with nature: to admire its beauty while being aware of its latent destructive power. The volcano’s presence invites us to contemplate the cycles of destruction and rebirth, echoing throughout art history.