Mount Vesuvius c. 1811
josephusaugustusknip
pencil drawn
amateur sketch
light pencil work
shading to add clarity
pencil sketch
old engraving style
pen-ink sketch
mountain
sketchbook drawing
pencil work
shading experimentation
This 1811 drawing by Josephus Augustus Knip depicts Mount Vesuvius, a stratovolcano in Italy famous for its eruption that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum. Knip, a Dutch painter born in 1777, was known for his landscapes and views of volcanic activity. The drawing, done in pencil and wash, captures the imposing yet serene presence of the mountain, with its gentle slopes and a plume of smoke rising from the crater. The muted tones and careful detailing create a sense of realism and evoke the dramatic landscape of the region.
Comments
In a succinct biography of 1819 Knip wrote: ‘I set out for Naples on 6 September 1811, and having seen the most beautiful sights I returned to winter in Rome with a good portfolio (of drawings) from that beautiful region.’ He more than likely made his drawings of Mount Vesuvius on this trip. Vesuvius is still an active volcano. It erupted twice during Knip’s lifetime, in 1794 and 1826.
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