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Martin published an accompanying pamphlet with a key to help viewers to interpret the painting and identify the figures and structures. Although popular with the public, Martin's painting was not a critical success. There was appreciation of the magnificent architecture and emotional content, of the
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instead. Collins sent the painting on an extensive tour of
Britain, and it was wildly successful. By 1826, the accompanying pamphlet had reached its 45th edition. Martin was preparing to publish an engraved version in 1826, when Collins sued under the agreement not to reproduce the painting. Martin
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visible in the background, lit by the moon revealed by a break in dark swirling clouds. The architecture is inspired by
Egyptian, Babylonian and Indian styles. Dressed in black, Daniel stands at the centre of the foreground, interpreting the supernatural writing on the wall of the hall. Belshazzar
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February 1821 and won a prize of £200 (equivalent to £21,536 in 2023) for the best picture. It was so popular that it needed to be protected from the crowds by a railing, and established Martin's fame. In the words of Martin's biographer
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as being too large – 160 × 249 centimetres (63 × 98 in) – and is now part of a private collection. It was exhibited in 2011 at
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successfully claimed that he was reproducing his preliminary sketches, not the finished work, and versions of his engraving were published in 1826, in 1832, and for his
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by using them to serve wine at a banquet. The feast was then disturbed by the appearance of a divine hand, which wrote a glowing inscription on a wall –
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engravings in 1826 and 1832. The original painting is now held in a private collection; two smaller contemporaneous "sketches" are held by the
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scale and bold colours of the work, but criticism of his painterly technique and particularly the execution of the figures.
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before the exhibition in 1821, and
Collins made Martin agree not to reproduce the painting until Collins sold it. The
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It shows a panoramic view of a cavernous banqueting room with columns on both sides, decorated with
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recoils in astonishment and dread to his right, and others look on in shock and horror.
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Myrone, Martin , John Martin: Apocalypse, London, Tate publishing, 2011, pp. 99–101.
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offered Martin 800 guineas; disappointed, he commissioned Martin to paint
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Reclaiming a
Plundered Past: Archaeology and Nation Building in Modern Iraq
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as a portent of
Belshazzar's doom. Belshazzar was killed that night, and
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The painting is the second piece in a trilogy of paintings by Martin on
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in 1848. It was damaged in 1854 on its journey to Naylor's gallery at
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in 1828. It was inspired by a conversation with the
American artist
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The
Biblical episode depicted in the painting –
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Martin sold the painting to his former master, glass painter
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is said to have defiled the sacred vessels of the enslaved
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John Martin, Plate from "Illustrations to the Bible":
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110:(1789–1854). It was first exhibited at the
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255:The Destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum
442:Sadak in Search of the Waters of Oblivion
71:Learn how and when to remove this message
361:John Martin, Painter: His Life And Times
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34:This article includes a list of general
509:Satan Presiding at the Infernal Council
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151: – is described in the
106:is an oil painting by British painter
474:The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
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376:John Martin: painting the apocalypse
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364:, Mary L. Pendered, p. 102–110
573:Paintings of Book of Daniel people
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558:Cultural depictions of Belshazzar
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195:in 1819, and completed with his
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354:, print by William Martin, 1831
356:, Victoria & Albert Museum
347:, Victoria & Albert Museum
324:, Yale Centre for British Art
250:Duke of Buckingham and Chandos
205:and perhaps also by a poem by
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345:, print by John Martin, 1826
328:Large image of the painting
125:Yale Center for British Art
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568:Culture of Yale University
490:The Great Day of His Wrath
261:Illustrations of the Bible
218:Hanging Gardens of Babylon
191:themes, starting with his
179:succeeded to his kingdom.
532:Jonathan Martin (brother)
578:Food and drink paintings
563:Paintings by John Martin
527:William Martin (brother)
466:Manfred on the Jungfrau
169:the writing on the wall
55:more precise citations.
16:Painting by John Martin
129:New Haven, Connecticut
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137:Hartford, Connecticut
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333:21 May 2016 at the
214:signs of the zodiac
207:Thomas Smart Hughes
198:The Fall of Ninevah
193:The Fall of Babylon
112:British Institution
482:The Last Judgement
450:Belshazzar's Feast
388:Belshazzar's Feast
382:, 8 September 2011
352:Belshazzar's Feast
343:Belshazzar's Feast
320:Belshazzar's Feast
203:Washington Allston
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53:introducing
547:Categories
501:Engravings
308:1854378899
290:References
165:Israelites
161:Belshazzar
157:Babylonian
36:references
453:(c. 1821)
434:Paintings
276:Welshpool
121:mezzotint
61:July 2021
331:Archived
226:ziggurat
131:and the
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183:History
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