An atmospheric view of Vesuvius erupting

A night view of the eruption of Vesuvio from the south, with Naples on the left. Underneath is an eigh-point key. The plate was aquatinted by Thomas Sutherland with the attribution 'Marchese Galiani Pinx.t'. This is often assumed to be Ferdinando Galiani (1728-1787) an important figure of the Italian Enlightenment, who had written a study of volcanos, although he was an abbot rather than a marquis. The publisher is best known for his series of superb flower prints, 'Thornton's Temple of Flora'.