The Last Day of Pompeii

Why it's great

As the volcano Vesuvius erupts, the people of ancient Pompeii run in terror under falling stones and lightning. Bryullov spent years researching the real ruins to make it accurate. When it was shown in Italy and Russia, crowds cheered and the writer Pushkin praised it. It's famous for combining drama with real history.

🏛️ Part of history

Imperial Rome & Pompeii (14–180) — Mount Vesuvius erupts in 79 AD as the people of Pompeii run for their lives beneath a rain of ash.

Where to see it

📍 Russian MuseumSaint Petersburg, Russia

Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 30,000 × 21,059 px · 631.8 megapixels · prints up to about 100 × 70 inches at 300 dpi Heads up: this is a huge scan, so the file can be hundreds of megabytes. Right-click and save it rather than opening it in a phone browser. 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

Karl Bryullov

1799–1852 · born in Saint Petersburg · died in Manziana

Karl Bryullov was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, into a family of artists. He lived for many years in Italy, where he painted his huge masterpiece 'The Last Day of Pompeii.' He returned to Russia as a celebrity and was admired by writers like Pushkin. He died in Italy in 1852.