An Eruption of Vesuvius

In 2002, George Mason University received a noteworthy donation from Robert E. Pugh—a collection of chromolithographs with a unique history. These chromolithographs were once the property of the Proprieta Artistica Leteraria D'Melio.

The subject of these remarkable prints centers around the dramatic eruption of Vesuvius in March 1834. While the exact origins of this series remain shrouded in mystery, we can reasonably infer that the original artist was Italian. This presumption is supported by the caption running along the bottom of the prints, which reads "Eruzione del Vesuvio del 10 Marzo 1834," translating to "Eruption of Vesuvius on 10 March 1834."