The canvas “The Last Day of Pompeii” was created at the intersection of classicism and romanticism. The composition is in the spirit of classicism in the way that all the episodes are enclosed in a triangle, but however the picture is devoted to the real tragedy of the people and not to an idealized image, which makes it a work in the style of romanticism.
“The Last Day of Pompeii” is an oiled painting by Karl Bryullov and is a monumental canvas of 456.5 by 651 cm which took almost 6 years from the first sketches to the appearance of the final version in 1833. This canvas is considered one of the most significant works of the artist and is now in the State Russian Museum
In the summer of 1827, Karl Bryullov visited the excavations of Pompeii where he got the idea to paint a large canvas dedicated to the death of Pompeii, and even received permission from the Neapolitan King to take measurement and make sketches of any architectural structures discovered during the excavations that interested him.
Before starting the work on the canvas, Karl Bryullov carefully studied historical documents related to the eruption of Vesuvius reading eyewitness accounts of the events making his painting as accurate as possible.
He chose the Street of the Tombs (Strada dei Sepolcri or Via dei Sepolcri) which he visited in 1827 as the scene of action, which show people trying to escape the eruption of Vesuvius. The sky is covered with dark clouds, buildings are collapsing and long and sharp lightning cuts through the darkness. The tragedy exposes their feelings and show the essence of humain souls. Drapery plays an important role in the canvas and demonstrates the painter’s good acquaintance with the masterpieces of ancien art.
In the center of the picture is a noble lady fallen off a chariot with a young child who did not yet understand the death of his mother. Most likely, the model was Countess Yulia Samoilova, who was Bryullov’s mistress for many years and whom he depicted in several more images. This woman symbolizes the death of the ancient world, and at the same time the child reaching out to his mother is perceived as the beginning of a new world which should arise on the ruins of the former without breaking living ties with the past.
The chariot from which the woman fell is still visible and is being pulled away by distraught horses.
On the right is another horse rearing up symbolizing the insane element.
We can also see a young man trying to persuade his exhausted mother to run away with him, while she is pushing him away which gives us a vivid impression of maternal sacrifice.
Two sons carry their old father forgetting about themselves and living only in fear for his life. And here is another family where the husband tried to cover his family. We can see that both parents watch the Vesuvius with horror
Karl Bryullov depicted Pagan priest trying to take his wealth with him. The pagan priest trying to escape can be seen as a symbol of the departure of the old world and paganism. At the same time he painted a Christian clergyman bravely looking at the furious Vesuvius, who can be identified by the cross on his chest. It is clear that Bryullov opposes Christianity to paganism and is not in favor of the latter. We also see a mother who has taken refuge close to the priest while enclosing her daughters with her arms in a protective gesture.
At the right edge of the canvas is a couple of newly wedded and one of the saddest scenes, showing that there are moment in life when grief turns out to be stronger than the fear of death.
The author also depicted himself and his beloved among people who are trying to hide in the tomb. We can see the artist trying to save his most valuable things
) by Karl Bryullov
The buildings in his painting are collapsing depicting what really happens during an earthquake of 8 points
In ‘The Last Day of Pompeii’, the artist gives us the opportunity to meet different people and to sympathize with them. This is the story of a disaster very well painted with phenomenal lighting.
I hope you enjoyed this painting.
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