Lot 1134 Dα

As shown by the signature and date, this painting of a nightly eruption of Mount Vesuvius was made in Rome in 1785, two years after the artist created his first painting of the same motif (cf. Christies, London, 16.10.1997, lot 56). The artist depicts the volcano from the west, as seen from Naples. The foreground shows fishermen in sailing boats, the Forte del Lanterna is depicted in the mid ground and the Grande Cono of Mount Vesuvius is shown spouting fire in the background. The red lava bathes the both the vulcano, the harbour and fishermen in a glowing light, contrasting starkly to the nighttime blackness. In contrast to many other depictions of Mount Vesuvius, Lacroix does not show the vulcano in the distance as it is actually seen from Naples. Instead he brings the mountain forwards and thus increases its threatening and fascinating qualities. Mount Vesuvius erupted many times in the course of the 18th century, which presented an interesting spectacle for travellers, scientists and of course for artists, many of which depicted these eruptions by night. For example Pierre-Jacques Antoine Volaire, Joseph Wright of Derby and Jacob Philipp Hackert (cf. for example 939th Lempertz Auction, 15.5.2009, lot 1136).
Little is known about the artist Charles-François Grenier de la Croix, known as Lacroix de Marseille, although he was among the leading landscape painters of the 18th century. He is documented in Rome in 1754, where he is named Della Croce, and again in Paris in the late 1770s. He was most influenced by Claude-Joseph Vernet, who he probably met in Rome.