“The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah,” created in 1852 by the artist John Martin, is a significant work of the Romanticism movement. This oil on canvas religious painting measures 136.3 x 212.3 cm and is housed in the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
The artwork portrays the biblical destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, symbolizing divine retribution. Dominating the scene is a massive, fiery explosion engulfing the cities, depicted with intense hues of yellow, orange, and red that blend into the dark, ominous sky. The chaotic devastation is vividly captured through Martin’s meticulous depiction of crumbling buildings and swirling flames. In stark contrast, a small group of figures, cloaked in white, flees to the right of the composition, emphasizing the scale of the catastrophe. The striking use of light and shadow, as well as the dramatic rendering of movement and destruction, epitomize the Romantic era’s fascination with the sublime and the powerful forces of nature and divinity.
