A mechanical artwork first imagined in 1775 to recreate the eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius has been brought to life for the first time, 250 years after it was conceived. The revival was made possible through modern technology and the creativity of two engineering students at the University of Melbourne.

The original idea came from Sir William Hamilton, British ambassador to Naples and Sicily from 1765 to 1800, who was also deeply interested in volcanology. His concept blended artistic expression with mechanical design to capture the dramatic visual effects of a volcanic eruption.

Inspired by the 1771 watercolor 'Night view of a current of lava' by British-Italian artist Pietro Fabris, the device was designed to use light and movement to mimic flowing lava and explosive bursts from Vesuvius.…