''The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah'' is a painting by the English painter

John Martin John Martin may refer to: Business *John Martin (businessman) (1820–1905), American lumberman and flour miller *John Charles Martin (fl. 1913–1931), American newspaper publisher *John Martin (publisher) (born 1930), American founder of Black ...

from 1852. John Martin's painting, shows the biblical story of the destruction of the two cities of

Sodom and Gomorrah Sodom and Gomorrah () were two legendary biblical cities destroyed by God for their wickedness. Their story parallels the Genesis flood narrative in its theme of God's anger provoked by man's sin (see Genesis 19:1–28). They are mentioned frequ ...

, which was God's punishment for the two cities for people's immoral behavior. Only Lot and his daughters were saved. Lot's wife disobeyed God's instruction not to look back, and was turned into a pillar of salt. The fiery red color is characteristic of John Martin's dramatic scenes of destruction. The swirling storm in heaven was also a frequent feature of his paintings.

Description

It is 136.3 x 212.3 cm. in size. It is in the collection of the Laing Art Gallery in

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...

Apocalyptic theme

Several other of Martin's paintings contain apocalyptic tendencies, including the ''Fall of Babylon'' (1831), ''The Fall of Nineveh'', ''Divine vengeance'', ''Pandemonium'' (1841) and ''The Eve of the Deluge'' (1840). File:The fall of Babylon; Cyrus the Great defeating the Chaldean Wellcome V0034440.jpg, ''The Fall of Babylon'', 1831 File:John Martin - The Deluge - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Syndfloden'', 1834, Yale Center for British Art File:John Martin - The Eve of the Deluge - WGA14146.jpg, ''The Eve of the Deluge'', 1840, den kongelige samling på Windsor Castle File:John Martin Le Pandemonium Louvre.JPG, ''Pandemonium'', 1841, Louvre

Artist

Many regarded Martin while he lived as a great British artist, surpassed only by his older contemporary colleague

J. M. W. Turner Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 177519 December 1851), known in his time as William Turner, was an English Romantic painter, printmaker and watercolourist. He is known for his expressive colouring, imaginative landscapes and turbulen ...

, who he had a competition with for recognition. But John Martin's reputation declined after his death.

References

External links

''The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah'', Martin, John – Europeana
{{DEFAULTSORT:Destruction of Sodom And Gomorrah 1852 paintings Cities in art Paintings by John Martin Sodom and Gomorrah Paintings in North East England Paintings of Lot (biblical person)