Titled An Eruption of Vesuvius in 1774, the painting is expected to fetch between £20,000 and £30,000.
The work portrays one of the most widely-documented volcanic events of the 18th century.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hackert’s biographer, said the artist personally witnessed the eruption and produced sketches at the scene before later completing the paintings in Rome where he had settled in 1768.
The eruption took place during the height of the Grand Tour, when wealthy European travellers visited cultural landmarks across the continent.
Scenes of Vesuvius were particularly sought after by collectors as symbols of travel, adventure and artistic taste.
Hackert’s fascination with the volcano was influenced by his friendship with Sir William Hamilton, the British ambassador to Naples and an early volcanology enthusiast who is said to have climbed Vesuvius dozens of times to study its activity.
The painting will be offered during the two-day Five Centuries sale on May 13 and 14 at Lyon & Turnbull’s Edinburgh galleries and online.
Bidding begins at 10am on both days.
Romey Clark, associate fine art specialist at Lyon & Turnbull, said: “Hackert’s depiction is notable for its dramatic immediacy.
“Flames and molten lava burst violently from the crater while thick clouds of smoke billow upward into the night sky.
“By positioning the viewer close to the action, Hackert moves away from the traditional panoramic views of Vesuvius.
“Instead, he offers a more concentrated and immersive vision of the eruption itself.
“This compositional decision allows him to incorporate figures in the foreground, most likely Grand Tour travellers accompanied by local guides who observe the spectacle from the slopes of the volcano.
“We’re excited to see what the painting fetches at auction.”
