Description:The personal papers of Harriet Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1806-1868), second Duchess of Sutherland, feature a number of letters from the artist John Martin (1789-1854). Throughout the early nineteenth century and posthumously Martin was renowned for his powerful depictions of Biblical scenes, often interpreted as reflecting the contemporary world.
Martin’s letters addressed to Duchess Harriet concern one of his most famous works, The Assuaging of the Waters which was commissioned by the Duchess and now forms part of the permanent collection in the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Martin’s letters reveal the artistic process which went into creating this masterpiece.
Martin’s letter dated September 4th 1839 refers to a ‘small sketch’ of the painting which he had sent to the Duchess for her approval. Duchess Harriet had responded to Martin’s sketch with ‘criticism regarding the Dove, and the Raven’. In reply to Duchess Harriet’s criticism Martin writes ‘I shall, of course, preserve the effect of sea and water as your grace points out’. He goes on to comment ‘I think that in a finished picture the foreground may be made highly interesting and picturesque, by the introduction of shells, weeds and such other organic remains as geology informs us the Deluge deposited on the tops of even the highest mountains, and which being newly deposited would give scope for an interesting foreground upon a sufficient scale’.
In his letter from 4th September, Martin reflects upon his own artistic consciousness. In one passage he writes ‘it has been a principle with me in all my works, either to conceal or doubtfully portray those details which would be revolting to the eye and to good taste’.
Click on the images on the left to learn more about John Martin in the Sutherland Papers.
Follow the link below to read an article about John Martin contributed by Art Historian and Sutherland Papers Project Volunteer Jenny Baker. Jenny has also transcribed the John Martin letters featured here. Follow the links to read these letters in full.
Contextual Information from William Feaver, ‘Martin, John (1789–1854)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/18192]. See also Robin Hamlyn, 'Martin, John' Grove Art Online. Oxford University Press, http://www.groveart.com/