The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

This important picture illustrates the Bible story of the destruction of the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as punishment for the immorality of their people. Only Lot and his daughters (seen hurrying away) were saved. Lot's wife ignored God's instruction not to look back, and was turned into a pillar of salt. The fiery red colouring is characteristic of John Martin's dramatic scenes of destruction, which illustrated scenes from the Bible and literature. The whirling storm in the sky was also a frequent feature of his paintings. Martin spent his early life in the North East.