John Martin (painter)

painter, engraver and illustrator (1789-1854)

John Martin (19 July 1789 – 17 February 1854) was an English romantic painter.[1]

John Martin
Portrait of John Martin by Henry Warren, 1839
Born(1789-07-19)19 July 1789
Died17 February 1854(1854-02-17) (aged 64)
Known forPainting, engraving, illustration
MovementRomantic
SpouseSusan
The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by John Martin

Biography change

John Martin was born in Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, on 19 July 1789.[2] He was best known as an author of historical paintings. They were mostly inspirated by the Bible and poetical works. Martin's works were usually landscapes with little drawings of people. He was a friend of the poet Edwin Atherstone. They both liked to paint scenes of mass destruction.

After the Belgian government bought The Fall of Ninevah, the Belgian Academy made Martin a member. He also was made a Knight of the Order of Leopold by the king of Belgium.[3]

John Martin died in Douglas, Isle of Man on 17 February 1854.

Works change

 
The Deluge by John Martin
 
The Calvary by John Martin

(A selection)

  • Christ Stilleth the Tempest
  • The Calvary
  • Belshazzar's Feast (1821)
  • The Destruction of Herculanum and Poempeii (1822)
  • The Deluge (1826)
  • The Fall of Nineveh (1829)
  • The Fallen Angels Entering Pandemonium (1841)
  • The Last Man (1849)
  • The Great Day of His Wrath (1851-1853)
  • The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (1852)
  • The Last Judgement (1853)

References change

  1. John Martin 1789–1854.
  2. "John Martin, Biography and image gallery". Archived from the original on 2016-11-30. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  3. John Martin 1789-1854 at Tate.

Bibliography change

  • William Feaver, The Art of John Martin, Oxford 1975.