This rare gouache painting illustrates the eruption which formed Graham island 50 km north of Pantelleria in 1831. Submarine eruptions generally commence with an exposive hydrovolcanic phase of activity, termed surtseyan after the eruption off Iceland in 1963. Strombolian activity is indicated in this painting, suggesting that the vent had become insulated from sea water. Because of its strategic importance, the new island was immediately claimed by Britain, Spain and Italy and many names were proposed -- Graham Island, Ferdinanda, Hotham, Corrao, Sciacca, Giulia and Nerita. Sadly the island rapidly succumbed to erosion by waves. By the end of October 1831, it had almost gone. By early in 1832 it had disappeared altogether. This caused Charles Lyell to comment in his great geology textbook: "as the island was visible for only about three months, this is an instance of wanton multiplicity of synonyms which has scarcely ever been outdone, even in the annals of zoology and biology." (Fig. 6.14).

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