John Martin

  Through his artwork, John Martin is trying to communicate the power of God. Most of his paintings are Biblical scenes or scenes that are about a higher power. His art convoys fear, horror and thrill as well. I think that the ideas explored in his work are both society and biblical, I think that his paintings reflect the work of humanity and the biblical consequences.

  The artwork was painted on large scales, with oil paints. Giving the fact that the canvases are immense, the brush marks are not easily seen. For a canvas that big, I think that the brushes that he used are both small – for detail and big – for background. The marks were carefully applied, through blending. The consistency of the paint looks this. There is clearly a depth in his artwork. There are elements of the painting that give the viewer the feeling of looking into an actual picture, not a painting. Depending on the theme of the work, John Martin used mostly hot colours, for example, in the “The day of His great wrath” painting; he used hot colours to paint, what I think it is, the way to inferno. The tonal range is curious: it’s dark in the middle but as it goes to the edges it becomes more and lighter. The texture looks rough, the mountains are cracking, and everything is falling apart. The subject is being viewed from eye level.

  John Martin (19.07.1789 – 17.02.1854) was an English romantic painter, engraver and illustrator, born in Haydon Bridge. He first started to paint with sepia watercolours. His first oil painting was sent to the Royal Academy in 1810. He produced a succession of large paintings, some landscapes but most of the grand biblical themes inspired from the Old Testament. His promising career was interrupted by the deaths of his father, mother, grandmother and young son in one year. Another distraction was William, who frequently asked him to draw up plans for his inventions and whom he always indulged with help and money. He was heavily influenced by the works of John Milton. From about 1827-28 turned away from painting and became involved with many plans and inventions. Another expensive burden was his brother’s, Jonathan, trail for setting fire to York Minster. He exhibited many works, but culminating was his last trilogy of paintings – “Last Judgement” (Hung in Tate Britain, London) which were completed just before the stroke paralysed his right side. He was never to recover and died on 17 February 1854 on the Isle of Man. He is buried in Kirk Braddan cemetery. Major exhibition of his works are still mounted.

  I choose to research about this artist, as his work helped me during my Art exam, and he gave me a new perspective about landscape paintings.