John Martin

Acquired by the present owner in France, circa 1980

The work is in generally good condition. The paper has softened in colour a little but the image remains strong. Sold in a carved wood frame.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

As had been the case for earlier artists such as Hogarth, Barry, Blake and Fuseli, John Martin found John Milton’s sublime visions of heaven and hell to be a great source of inspiration.  The present watercolor is dated 1836 and illustrates a scene from Milton’s epic tale Paradise Lost.  It forms part of a group of works, the earliest dating from the 1820s, which culminated in Martin's monumental oil paintings of 1841, Pandemonium and The Celestial City and the River of Bliss.¹

Here the artist shows an ethereal vision of the heavenly kingdom, with the city itself floating on the distant horizon, its limitless palaces sparkling in the sun-light, while the rich wilderness landscape of Paradise stretches before it.

We would like to thank Michael Campbell for his help in cataloging this lot.

^1. Musée du Louvre, Paris & Sale, London, Sotheby's, 8 July 2015, lot 57 (Private Collection)