Artwork
Sadak in Search of the Waters of Oblivion
Sadak in Search of the Waters of Oblivion is an oil painting by John Martin. It dates from 1812 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Sadak in Search of the Waters of Oblivion is an oil painting created by John Martin in 1812. It is a representative work of the English Romanticist style, characterized by dramatic and expansive compositions.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a lone figure in a long robe, standing at the edge of a vast, dark landscape with outstretched arms. The desolate scene and the figure's pose evoke a sense of despair, suggesting a narrative of loss or longing.
Technique & Style
The artwork employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts between light and dark to create a dramatic effect. The composition features a minute figure within an expansive landscape, a recurring motif in Martin's work, blending elements of the fantastical and the sublime.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the collection at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, exemplifying Martin's contribution to the Romanticist movement in early 19th-century English art.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Martin (19 July 1789 – 17 February 1854) was an English Romanticist painter, engraver, and illustrator.
