The ground shakes. The sky suddenly darkens as if night has fallen over the earth. Hundreds of citizens of Pompeii stop, astonished and frightened, witnessing one of the most legendary natural disasters in human history: the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius. The Russian artist Karl Bryullov managed to convey all the emotions that must have been felt during this disaster as if he himself had witnessed the event.
The Last Day of Pompeii is a large-scale artwork, painted between 1830 and 1833. The painting depicts the eruption of Vesuvius in the year 79 A.D. The people of Pompeii appear desperate and in panic. Some embrace each other in fear of the eruption. Their bodies are modeled in a classical manner, making the painting a blend of Neoclassicism and Romanticism. A light shines on some people, while others are in shadows. The blazing volcano erupts in the background, giving an infernal effect to the painting.
The most significant historical events in humanity have always been reflected in works of art. Such works have stimulated the imagination of both contemporaries and those who lived centuries apart from what happened. One such grand tragedy that claimed the lives of many human beings was the eruption of Vesuvius, which buried the prosperous and beautiful city of Pompeii under an immense and deadly layer of ash.
Impressed by his visit to the excavations, Karl Bryullov had the idea to create the painting "The Last Day of Pompeii." His interest in this historical event did not arise by itself, but was fueled by the stories of the artist's brother, architect Alexander Bryullov. Paintings on similar themes were in vogue at that time, which helped to increase the artist’s interest. The painter, who had stayed in Italy for quite a while, began to feel a somewhat disdainful attitude toward himself and his work from the local art community. Some of them believed that Karl could not paint anything more significant than the small genre paintings that had made him famous. In conceiving "The Last Day of Pompeii," Bryullov not only wanted to create a colossal-sized canvas but also to dispel the prejudices of Italian critics.
Almost six years passed from the first sketches to the appearance of the final version of the image. Considered one of the artist's most significant works, this painting is housed in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. It is one of the most visited and loved by the public. However, many pencil, watercolor, and oil sketches preceded the creation of the painting. One of the versions of The Death of Pompeii, which Bryullov painted in 1828, is in the Tretyakov State Gallery and evokes no less interest among visitors than the finished work.
In The Last Day of Pompeii, Bryullov used two different light sources: the dramatic red light of the volcano and the cold greenish light coming from the sky, which adds even more emotional tension to the painting. These bright and deep colors also go beyond classical tradition, which has led people to call Bryullov a Romantic artist.
On the left side of the painting is a woman looking directly at the viewer. Behind her, there is an artist with a box of brushes and paints; this is Karl Bryullov's self-portrait. By placing himself in the painting, the artist expressed his emotional involvement and feelings while observing the destruction caused by the volcano.
Observing the work, one can imagine how important it was for the young and ambitious painter to produce a masterpiece dedicated to the tragic death of the ancient Italian city. Each sketch moved a stage further along the artist's creative path towards the final goal.
Studying a painting on a historical theme is fascinating from any perspective. It is even more interesting to become familiar with the sketches that preceded its creation. The many details, the overall vein of the painting, the color scheme, all undergo changes depending on how the artist's vision evolves over time or what becomes more significant to him or fades from his creative mind.
Bryullov took only 11 months to finish The Last Day of Pompeii. At the same time, it took him six years to develop the final version of the image. The 1828 sketch lacks some of the details that can be seen in the canvas found in the Russian museum.
The central group was invariably carried over by Bryullov from sketch to sketch: it is a family with two small children fleeing from the wrath of the Volcano. Another detail present in all versions of the painting is a woman who died after falling from a cart. The child who was with her survived. He hugs his mother desperately, with eyes full of fear of the impending disaster. Supposedly, the deceased was a Pompeian nobleman, as evidenced by the jewels scattered by the impact on the stone pavement.
Many critics, including the painter's contemporaries, saw the death of the victims in the tragedy of this poor woman.
After traveling through Europe, The Last Day of Pompeii arrived in Russia, where he and Bryullov's talent were received with respect and admiration. It was shown at the Emperor Fine Art Academy as an example for all aspiring artists.
KUADROS ©, a famous painting on your wall.
