Lot 52: Pierre-Jacques Volaire, called le Chevalier Volaire (Toulon 1729-Italy c.1790-1800)

Vesuvius erupting at night with spectators in the foreground
signed 'Volaire.f' (lower right)
oil on canvas
32 x 23 5/8in. (81 x 60 cm.)

We are grateful to Madame Emilie Beck for confirming the attribution having seen the picture in the original and suggesting that it depicts the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1779. She will include the picture in her forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the artist's work to be published in 2006.

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