Oil on canvas. In May 1789, encouraged by the naturalist and patron of science Joseph Banks, John Thomas Stanley (later First Baron Stanley of Alderley) set off from Leith, near Edinburgh, on an expedition to Iceland, accompanied by a crew of 26. His intention was to research the island and he returned with a collection of dried plants and numerous sketches drawn by Stanley himself and by other crew members. Edward Dayes and Nicholas Pocock were commissioned to prepare completed drawings from these amateur studies. This is one of two oil paintings in the Government Art Collection by Dayes, depicting geysers in Iceland (another shows 'The New Geyser'; GAC 4822). Both are thought to be based on sketches by Stanley.
