Map of the Phlegraean Fields and Vesuvius, 1801
Breislak, Scipione (1748-1826). Voyages physiques et lythologiques dans la Campanie. Paris: Dentu, Imprimeur-libraire, 1801.
Breislak was a priest who taught in Naples and took a great interest in the volcanic activity of the region, especially after a violent eruption of Vesuvius in 1794. He made detailed tours of the Phlegraean Fields and surrounding regions (known as Campania), and produced this account of the geography and geology of the area in 1801.
The most impressive feature of the book is this large colorful map of Campania. In the exhibition the entire map is displayed; for the catalog we reproduce a detail, which shows the Phlegraean Fields to the left of Naples, and Mount Vesuvius to the right. Both areas are highlighted in red.
Nazzaro 1995, “Vesuvius and the Volcanologists, 1734-1860,” pp. 134-135; Francani, Vicenzo, “Breislak, Scipione,” in DSB 2:439-440.