In a succinct biography of 1819 Knip wrote: ‘I set out for Naples on 6 September 1811, and having seen the most beautiful sights I returned to winter in Rome with a good portfolio (of drawings) from that beautiful region.’ He more than likely made his drawings of Mount Vesuvius on this trip. Vesuvius is still an active volcano. It erupted twice during Knip’s lifetime, in 1794 and 1826.
