The Devastation of the Earthquake at Messina, Sicily: The Palazzata c. 1783 - 1788
Dimensions: support: 265 x 411 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: Gosh, what a somber scene—like staring into the soul of destruction. Editor: Indeed. This is Henry Tresham's "The Devastation of the Earthquake at Messina, Sicily: The Palazzata," currently held at the Tate. Curator: It's a brown wash drawing, isn't it? All muted tones, adding to that pervasive sense of loss. The artist really captured the sheer power of the earthquake. Editor: Absolutely, and Tresham likely aimed to engage a British audience, feeding into broader narratives about natural disasters and societal fragility. These images had real political weight. Curator: I can see that! It almost feels like a stage set, everything broken and scattered. Makes you think about what gets rebuilt, and what gets left behind. Editor: I agree. Art like this, it doesn't just show us ruins, it also reflects the cultural and political tremors of the time. Curator: A really interesting work! Editor: Indeed, a poignant snapshot of history, isn't it?
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/tresham-the-devastation-of-the-earthquake-at-messina-sicily-the-palazzata-t08265
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A great earthquake shook southern Italy on 5 February 1783. It devastated parts of Calabria and Sicily. Tresham appears to have been the only British artist to travel to Sicily after this dramatic event. As a history painter studying in Italy he would have been very familiar with the story of the destruction of Pompeii when Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, and he visited the ruins of the ancient city. The 1783 earthquake was a reminder of this event. It must have been in Tresham's mind when he sat sketching among the ruins of Messina in Sicily. The Palazzata was an elegant building facing the city's harbour. A sixteenth century fountain showing Neptune, which still survives, can be seen in the distance. Gallery label, September 1997
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