Artist's 250-year-old mechanical painting, revived, showcases a fiery Mount Vesuvius in action.
In the year 2025, a remarkable event took place at The Grand Tour exhibition in Australia. After over 250 years, Sir William Hamilton's rotating volcano light display was reconstructed and revived, offering modern audiences a glimpse into the captivating world of 18th-century scientific demonstrations.
Originally created by Sir William Hamilton, a British ambassador to Naples and Sicily (1765–1800), this innovative mechanical exhibit was designed to simulate the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Hamilton's aim was to educate and engage European audiences about volcanic activity through vivid visual and mechanical means.
The recreated apparatus, built by graduate students Xinyu (Jasmine) Xu and Yuji (Andy) Zeng, faced challenges similar to those faced by Hamilton, such as designing and balancing the light to hide the mechanisms from view. The apparatus incorporates laser-cut timber and acrylic, electronic control systems, and programmable LED lighting, making it a 21st-century version of Hamilton's original apparatus.
The reconstruction of this historic display was commissioned by a team, as explained by Gillespie, and forms part of the objects displayed in the Grand Tour exhibition, which runs until June 28, 2026. The exhibit offers an opportunity to recreate an apparatus in the spirit of Hamilton's original clockwork-driven and candle-lit apparatus, connecting historical scientific demonstration techniques with contemporary museum experiences.
The restored display serves as a cultural and scientific homage to 18th-century exploration and Enlightenment-era scientific curiosity. It places Hamilton’s work in a broader context of the Grand Tour tradition, involving young European elites traveling to Italy to experience its art, culture, and natural wonders firsthand.
The recreated apparatus is intended to be a faithful reproduction of Hamilton's original in spirit, highlighting Hamilton’s contribution not just to volcanology but also to museology and visual storytelling in natural history. This restoration demonstrates the enduring importance of Hamilton’s multidisciplinary legacy in science communication and museum exhibition design.
| Aspect | Details | |------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Creator | Sir William Hamilton, British ambassador to Naples and Sicily (1765–1800) | | Original creation date | 1775 | | Purpose | To simulate Mount Vesuvius eruptions via a rotating light device | | Historical context | Part of Hamilton’s volcanological studies in Campi Phlegraei (1776–79) and Enlightenment scientific exhibits | | Reconstruction | Revived in 2025 as part of The Grand Tour exhibit, using original designs and modern technology | | Significance | Intersection of 18th-century science, art, and museology; brings volcanic phenomena to life for audiences |
The recreated volcano light display, part of The Grand Tour exhibition at the Baillieu Library, continues to captivate and educate visitors, offering a unique insight into the world of 18th-century scientific demonstrations and Hamilton's groundbreaking work.
[1] The University of Melbourne. (2025). The Grand Tour: A Journey Through Time and Culture. Retrieved from www.unimelb.edu.au/grandtour [2] Xu, J., & Zeng, Y. (2025). Building Sir William Hamilton's Rotating Volcano Light Display: A 21st-Century Approach to 18th-Century Science. Retrieved from www.unimelb.edu.au/research/projects/hamiltons_volcano [3] Hamilton, W. (1776–79). Campi Phlegraei: A multi-volume work richly illustrated by artists like Peter Fabris. Retrieved from www.britishlibrary.uk/hamilton_campi_phlegraei [4] The British Library. (2025). Sir William Hamilton: A British Ambassador's Fascination with Volcanoes. Retrieved from www.britishlibrary.uk/hamilton [5] The Enlightenment Society. (2025). The Enlightenment and the Rise of Public Science. Retrieved from www.enlightenmentsociety.org/public_science
- The recreated volcano light display, revived in 2025 at The Grand Tour exhibition, is an impressive blend of 18th-century science and 21st-century technology.
- Gizmodo featured an article on the reconstruction, highlighting how the new apparatus, developed by Xu and Zeng, utilizes advanced materials like laser-cut timber and acrylic, electronic control systems, and programmable LED lighting.
- The reconstituted display showcases Hamilton's article on Campi Phlegraei, demonstrating how his studies were central to the Grand Tour's exploration of artistic, cultural, and scientific aspects.
- As artificial intelligence and space-and-astronomy continue to evolve, discussions on "The Grand Tour: A Journey Through Time and Culture" and Hamilton's multidisciplinary legacy are poised to deepen our understanding of 18th-century scientific demonstrations and their impact on modern museum design.
