The Volcanic District Bounded by the Rivers Nette and Bruhl on the Lower Rhine

This topographical portrayal of the Eifel mountain range suggests that Romantic culture was developing a more scientific interest in volcanism. The image evokes neither the sublime nor the picturesque, yet the book it illustrates—a scientific work concerning the origins of volcanoes—sells very successfully. Depicting roughly 35 miles of the Eifel mountain range, this topographic map is color coded to indicate rock type. Volcanoes are depicted by sets of lines, each which culminates in a circle to indicate the crater. Also depicted are small towns, landmarks, and rivers. In the center of the image, Laacher See is shown with numerous, ring-like shapes in and around the water-filled crater. The key, showing which colors represent which rocks, is found along the lower portion of the map, while the compass rose is in the upper left. 

For his accurate surveys of the Shetland Islands (in which he found vast iron deposits), the Society of Arts awarded Samuel Hibbert with the Iris Gold Metal. During the early 1820s, Samuel Hibbert-Ware’s reputation as a geologist increased significantly due to this prestigious award. The sell of his book (Survey of the Shetland Islands) financially enabled him to focus on surveying land, and he later performed a survey of Laacher See (D. Hudson, The Royal Society of Arts 84). 

This topographical portrayal of the Eifel mountain range suggests that Romantic culture was developing a more scientific interest in volcanism. The image evokes neither the sublime nor the picturesque, yet the book it illustrates—a scientific work concerning the origins of volcanoes—sells very successfully.

"The Volcanic District" was engraved for the book History of the Extinct Volcanoes in 1831 shortly after Charlotte and Samuel Hibbert-Ware surveyed the lands surrounding Laacher See. A copy of their topographic map is now owned and available to the public in Memorial Library at the University of Wisconsin—Madison.