Sir Hamilton's mechanical artwork on the eruption of Vesuvius comes back to life after 250 years.

A mechanical work of art designed in 1775 to depict the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy has been brought to life for the first time, 250 years after its conception. Thanks to modern technology and the ingenuity of two University of Melbourne engineering students, the device is now the centerpiece of the exhibition "The Grand Tour" at the University of Melbourne's Baillieu Library. The exhibition, which opened this week, showcases artworks, archives, and artifacts from the University's Archives and Special Collections, exploring the cultural phenomenon of the 18th-century Grand Tour. Among its highlights is the new Vesuvius apparatus, an early example of multimedia art designed by Sir William Hamilton, British ambassador to the court of Naples and Sicily from 1765 to 1800 and a passionate volcanologist. Hamilton's original concept combined art and engineering to simulate the visual spectacle of volcanic activity. Based on a 1771 watercolor titled "Night View of a Lava Flow" by Italian-British artist Pietro Fabris, the device uses light and motion to animate the lava flows and explosions of Vesuvius. While it's unclear whether the mechanism was ever built in Hamilton's time, a detailed sketch preserved in the Bordeaux Municipal Library provided the model for its modern reconstruction. Dr. Richard Gillespie, senior curator in the School of Engineering and Information Technology, initiated the project and oversaw its development. “It is fitting that, after exactly 250 years, our students have brought this dormant project to life,” he said. "The exhibition offered the perfect opportunity to recreate the apparatus and make it accessible to the public. It's a wonderful work of scientific communication. People around the world have always been fascinated by the immense power of volcanoes." Xinyu (Jasmine) Xu, a Master's student in Mechatronics, and Yuji (Andy) Zeng, a Master's student in Mechanical Engineering, spent three months building the device in the student lab at The Creator Space. Using modern materials and technologies, including laser-cut wood and acrylic, programmable LED lighting, and electronic control systems, they reinvented Hamilton's watchmaking design for a contemporary audience. “The project offered a wide range of learning opportunities. I expanded many skills, including programming, welding, and physics applications,” Xu said. Zeng said the project offered a new perspective on mechanical engineering applications. “It was a fantastic way to develop my practical problem-solving skills,” he said. “We still faced some of the same challenges as Hamilton. The lighting had to be designed and balanced so that the mechanisms were hidden from view.” Research engineer Andrew Kogios, who supervised the students, said their enthusiasm and perseverance led to tremendous skill development. “From materials selection and 3D printing to electronics troubleshooting and meeting requirements, collaborating with Yuji and Xinyu has been extremely rewarding,” said Mr. Kogios. “Experiences like these, which complement their graduate studies, best prepare them for their future endeavors.” Exhibition curator Sally Foster, Curator of Prints and Drawings, said Italy was a key destination on the Grand Tour. "We are thrilled that the Vesuvius device is being displayed. I'm sure it will be a huge success," said Mrs. Foster. The exhibition also features material relating to Hamilton's activities in Naples and will be complemented by a display combining pieces from the University's Rare Book Collection with volcanic minerals from the FA Singleton Collection in the Faculty of Earth Sciences.

The Grand Tour exhibition is open to the public and will remain open until June 28, 2026.