The Destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum

Why it's great

John Martin's glowing sky and lightning show the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum. Painted in 1822, it turns the ancient disaster into a Romantic spectacle.

🏛️ Part of history

Imperial Rome & Pompeii (14–180) — John Martin's glowing sky and lightning show the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Where to see it

📍 Location not recordedWe couldn't confirm where it hangs today. Museums sometimes move or lend paintings, so check the museum's website before you travel.

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 2,012 × 1,252 px · 2.5 megapixels This is the largest scan on Wikimedia Commons, which is fairly small for a big print. The museum that owns it may offer a larger one. File page & license ↗

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

💵 Budget Etsy ↗ Posters and simple prints from small sellers, usually the lowest prices. 🖼️ Mid-range Fine Art America ↗ Good printing on paper, canvas or metal, made to order, with framing options. 🏛️ High-end Meisterdrucke ↗ Museum-grade giclée prints on archival paper or canvas, the closest to the real thing.

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

About the artist

John Martin

1789–1854 · born in Haydon Bridge · died in Douglas

John Martin was born in Northumberland, England, and made huge, dramatic paintings of disasters from the Bible and history. His work was hugely popular in London in the 1820s and 1830s, as thrilling as a movie. He also designed engineering schemes for his city. He died on the Isle of Man in 1854.