Artist of the Apocalypse

 The Boom of Doom & Gloom 

I made a new discovery today: artist, John Martin was born on 19th July 1789. I'd not heard of him before, but learned his work is the kind that goes in & out of fashion; almost disappearing at times, then being exhibited in major UK galleries in 2011. He specialized in epic, wildly dramatic canvases - huge - which added to their effect. Not surprising that he was an influence on the epic-scale cinematography of DW Griffith & Cecil B DeMille. 

He made history and Biblical scenes come alive. Disasters and misfortune become the working material of artistes, and he was surely provided with such when, in one year, he experienced the death of his mother, father, grandmother, and young son.

Great Day of Wrath

More tribulation came when he almost bankrupted himself in his efforts to bring fresh water, and an efficient sewage system to London, where people were dying from contaminated water. Being a skilled engineer, he was able to draw up plans, which, although never came to fruition, were recognized many years later as having merit; preceding the work of Joseph Bazalgette, by 25 years.

For all the vagaries of public reception, he was favoured by Prince Albert, who bought The Eve of the Deluge'; was made a Knight by the King of Belgium, and gifted Sevres porcelain by the King of France.

He was also a big influence on Dante Gabriel Rossetti & the Pre-Raphaelites. Fashion is fickle; in discovering these artistes from the past, there's a common pattern of their not being fully recognized in one's own life-time (or country); falling out of public awareness, sometimes for decades, even centuries, before being re-discovered - often by a biographer - who brings a spotlight to their work once more. On this occasion, he did receive recognition in his lifetime; and I'm happy to make his acquaintance further down the line.

Joshua Commanding the Sun

Belshazzar's Feast, 159 x 250 cm, 1820