Fan Design with Eruption of Vesuvius and the Tomb of Virgil
Medium
Watercolor and gouache on vellum ?
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1938
Accession Number
38.91.104
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate fan design, created by an anonymous Bolognese artist in the 18th century, captures the dramatic Eruption of Vesuvius the ancient Tomb of Virgil. Rendered in watercolor and gouache on v—a fine parchment prized for its smooth surface and luminosity—the artwork exemplifies the intricate preparatory drawings used for luxury fans, popular accessories among Europe's elite during the Rococo era. Bologna, a hub of artistic innovation, was renowned for such refined draftsmanship, blending whimsy with historical reverence. The composition evokes the Grand Tour fascination with Italy's vol...