How much heat and danger could you endure to paint and tell the story of an erupting volcano?
Ever since Pliny the Younger wrote his eyewitness account of the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, and the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum under meters of volcanic ash and pumice, volcanoes have made for captivating reportage.
Throughout history, artists have been drawn to the grandeur and the immense destructive power of volcanoes. In 1771 when Vesuvius erupted again, French painter Pierre-Jacques Volaire (1729-1790) was an eyewitness. Regrettably, his paintings portray a romanticized version of this cataclysmic event, featuring carefully arranged figures calmly observing the pyrotechnic spectacle from a safe vantage point across the tranquil Bay of Naples. For me, it’s not necessary for depictions of volcanic eruptions to be embellished to truly resonate. They are captivating as they are.
In 1883 the popular press described the deadly eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia as an ‘earth-shattering event producing millions of tons of ash and superheated pyroclastic flows, causing tsunamis and the loudest sounds ever recorded’. An estimated 36,000 people died and it made news.Â
By the late 19th C. a group of painters, organized by Frenchman Jules Tavernier (1844-1889), congregated at various volcanoes in Hawaii to capture the power and beauty of volcanic landscapes, particularly the erupting Kilauea on the Big Island. They called themselves The Volcano School. It was also newsworthy and they wanted to record in art what they saw and experienced.
The Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanic activity, so there was an abundance of impressive features, like craters, cinder cones, lava tubes, and calderas, providing a bounty of striking subject matter for their paintings.
Documenting these erupting volcanoes was not for the timid. They wanted to get close enough with just the right viewpoint to set up with their sketchbooks and canvases. This proximity meant they’d have to endure extreme temperatures and temperamental volcanoes belching out toxic sulfur dioxide gas and vapor, known as volcanic smog.
Here are just a few of the Volcano School painters:
Jules Tavernier’s Kilauea Fire Fountain from 1884 shows vivid lava flows of reds, blacks, and oranges; dynamic smoke and steam plumes and an awe-inspiring volcanic landscape. Tavernier also created a cyclorama, a 360-degree canvas, measuring 11 feet high and 90 feet long, providing the illusion of looking into the Halemaʻumaʻu crater of Kilauea’s erupting crater.
Charles Furneaux (1835–1913) painted smoldering lava pools, lightning bolts over the ocean, and shorelines aglow under ash-filtered sunbeams. He wanted to combine ideas of the sublime with wonders of the natural world.Â
D. Howard Hitchcock (1861-1943) moved to Hawaii in 1887 and lived there for over 50 years until his death. He painted the rugged power of Kilauea and Mauna Loa with reverence for the volcano deity Pele, as the ancient Hawaiians do.
Scottish-born Constance Frederica Gordon-Cumming (1837-1924) was a renowned artist and writer who traveled the world. She was the first woman to paint active volcanoes when she arrived in Hilo in 1879. Her drawings of fumaroles and fissures have iconic and frightful features.
These visionary artists captured the awe-inspiring might of volcanoes, presenting us with both beauty and terror. The Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland, a mere 35km away from the capital of ReykjavĂk, has recently been shaken by a series of fissure eruptions, causing earthquakes. In the face of these extraordinary events, I wonder if there are visual journalists willing to venture close, and not miss the opportunity to witness this magnificent display firsthand and report back.
Volcanoes and Climate Change
Volcanoes are a powerful force of nature that have inspired art and artists throughout history. Their impact on the Earth’s climate can last long after an eruption, sometimes resulting in cooling. Volcanic ash can reach the stratosphere and block out the sun, lowering temperatures. Gasses emitted by volcanoes can combine with water vapor in the atmosphere, creating acid rain. Inversely, extensive volcanic eruptions and the greenhouse gasses they release, can contribute to global warming. However, the amount of carbon dioxide released by volcanoes is insignificant compared to that produced by humans and the burning of fossil fuels.
More to Know:
The museum at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has a collection of paintings by three of the Volcano School artists.
In 1883, Krakatoa’s explosion affected art around the globe. Dust and gasses ejected into the atmosphere created red skies, that showed up in Norwegian artist Edvard Munch’s painting ‘The Scream’.
I painted the Fagradalsfjall Volcano in Iceland.
loved this one on VOLCANOES- great images TY!
did a whole series on this topic in 2000-can see on on website oder "archives"https://www.dianeburko.com/volcanoes-1
Fascinating and Frightful! Thanks Bill!