1827
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still is a 1827 ink by John Martin, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This scene shows a dramatic battle with a dark, stormy sky and a bright light cutting through the clouds. In the foreground, soldiers on horseback charge forward, while a large rock or boulder looms to the right. Behind them, a walled city sits on a hill, with buildings and a grand structure at the top. The chaotic mix of smoke, fire, and movement creates a sense of urgency and chaos. The bright light in the sky is a key detail—it suggests something supernatural happening. The artist used shading and contrast to make the scene feel intense and alive, almost like a moment frozen in time. Want to know more? Check out the technique: etching.
John Martin (19 July 1789 – 17 February 1854) was an English Romanticist painter, engraver, and illustrator.
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