John Downman

The Crater of Vesuvius

1774

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment

Artist: John Downman 1750–1824
Medium: Graphite and watercolour on paper
Dimensions: Support: 375 × 535 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996
Reference: T10174

Display caption

John Downman visited Italy in 1773 with his fellow artist, Joseph Wright. Although within his professional career he was principally recognised as a portraitist, the informal studies that Downman made during his Italian travels reveal his highly original talent for landscape. His landscape studies, like the one shown here, were made primarily in monochrome washes and in pen and ink. Unlike the majority of views of Vesuvius by other artists, which show the volcano from a distance within the wider landscape, Downman focuses upon the play of light and shadow on the stark, rock-strewn crater.

Gallery label, April 2007

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Film and audio

Poem of the Month: Will Eaves

This October Will Eaves presents his poem, based on John Downman’s The Crater of Vesuvius 1774, currently on display at …