Inspiring Older Readers

posted on 29 Sep 2015

John Martin Apocalypse Now! by Barbara C. Morden

Back in 2011 whilst on a visit to Newcastle Upon Tyne, I had an afternoon to kill taking in the sites of the city centre. I stumbled on the Laing Art Gallery which by chance was hosting an exhibition of the works of the visionary painter, John Martin under the banner title Apocalypse. Martin was an influential figure in the first half of the 19th century but I suspect he is now quite a marginal figure in terms of public recognition.

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Martin took on a big vision - to paint Heaven and Hell - and the rather snooty Victorian art establishment dismissed him as a mere populist who set out to excite a public who weren't trained to look at art in the 'right' way. However, in reality Martin was a prophet who was well ahead of his time. His huge canvases capture the Romantic spirit of the age and his depiction of an insignificant mankind captured in huge, seething, elemental landscapes were the natural next development of thinking that had begun with Blake and Wordsworth and was leading towards late period Turner.

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The exhibition at The Laing also had its own limited edition, signed, slipcase book which captures the magnificance of Martin's body of work. This is a sumptuous and lavishly illustrated volume that makes a significant contribution to rehabilitating the artists reputation in the modern age. The book is bound in a wine red cloth and has gold embossed lettering on the spine and the slipcase carries the symbol of the John Martin Circle. This delux edition cost a fairly hefty £55.00 but I've never had a moment's regret over the purchase.

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Terry Potter

September 2015