Destruction of Tyre (1840) by John Martin

Destruction of Tyre - John Martin - 1840

Artwork Information

TitleDestruction of Tyre
ArtistJohn Martin
Date1840
Art MovementRomanticism
Current LocationToledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH, US

About Destruction of Tyre

The artwork, titled “Destruction of Tyre,” was created by John Martin in 1840. It belongs to the Romanticism art movement and is characterized as a religious painting. Currently housed in the Toledo Museum of Art in Toledo, Ohio, United States, this piece exemplifies Martin’s dramatic and emotive style.

The painting vividly captures the violent natural forces that encompass the destruction of the ancient city of Tyre. Dominated by dark and foreboding clouds, the stormy sky is dramatically split by a streak of lightning. Towering waves in the foreground threaten to engulf everything in their path, symbolizing the cataclysmic nature of divine retribution. Amidst the chaos, remnants of the city, including partially submerged architecture, are visible, emphasizing the dire aftermath of the disaster. A small boat, struggling against the fierce waves, adds a sense of scale and human vulnerability. Martin’s masterful use of light, shadow, and turbulent motion imbues the scene with a profound sense of both awe and terror.

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