Lot 66: Manuel Orazi (French, 1860-1934) Scenes from the 'Last Days of Pompeii' by Lord Lytton each 31 x 48 cm. (12 x 19 in.)

Scenes from the 'Last Days of Pompeii' by Lord Lytton
all signed with monogram, three lower right, four lower left
black ink and pencil
each 31 x 48 cm. (12 x 19 in.)
(7)

The present lot illustrates scenes from the Last Days of Pompeii (1834) by Edward Lord Lytton. The story is set in A.D. 79 in Pompeii just before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It tells of the lives, loves, murders and betrayals of a group of Pompeian residents set against the backdrop of a threatening Vesuvius.

Whilst a number of editions for the Last Days of Pompeii exist, none seem to have been illustrated by Manuel Orazi. However, Orazi designed film sets and movie posters, including designing the sets and costumes for Jacques Feyder's mythical film L'Atlantide. There is a possibility that the present lot relates to Ultimi giorni di Pompeii, Gli (1913), an Italian black and white silent film.