Temple of Isis at Pompeii

This engraving was made around 1781 - it is an aquatint over an etching, created from sketches by Louis-Jean Desprez, with figures engraved by Edouard and Louis-Charles Gauthier-Dagoty and Jean Duplessis-Bertaux. At the center of the composition is the temple of the same name, dedicated to the goddess Isis, which was built way back in 1764. It survived two destructions: during an earthquake in 1796 and the eruption of Vesuvius in 1779. And it was meticulously rebuilt twice, due to its importance both for the locals and for history.

The work is truly captivating: extraordinary detail, fine color transitions despite the monochrome palette, the dynamics of the plot, and a large number of characters. Every detail attracts attention: from the cloudy sky to each individual person. The etching adds precision to this picture, and the aquatint adds smoothness and naturalness. So the canvas harmoniously combines architectural documentary and the romanticism of the plot.

An interesting fact: the illustration was created for the publication "A Picturesque Journey to Naples and Sicily," which was later published in Paris in as many as 5 volumes.