Pierre-Jacques Volaire

Pierre-Jacques Volaire was a French painter who became famous for dramatic scenes of volcanic eruptions. Born in Toulon in 1729, he worked for a time with a well-known marine painter before settling in Italy. There he found his great subject in Mount Vesuvius, the volcano near Naples, which he painted erupting at night again and again, with rivers of glowing lava lighting up the darkness.

Wealthy travelers on the Grand Tour eagerly bought these spectacular scenes as souvenirs of their visit to the famous volcano. His striking contrast between fiery lava and cool moonlight made the paintings thrilling. Volaire is remembered as a master of the dramatic volcanic landscape, capturing both the terror and the beauty of Vesuvius in eruption.