160 Mr. Martin's Picture of the Deluge. [Feb. 



knowledge evinced in the execution, arid must adtnire it for decision, 

 and attention to those minutiae which the great never neglect, whether 

 in painting or in writing. It will be left to those of confined understand- 

 ing, and contemptible taste, to chatter about bits and touches, and call 

 in question the merits of this sublimely conceived picture. We shall not 

 enter into comparisons between this and any other work of Martin's. 

 The subject is more sublime, and he has been called upon for greater 

 exertions, and has shown himself capable of producing them. 



We will try and briefly describe the picture. In the sky, towards the 

 left, is seen gleaming through the dreadful gloom the sun, the moon, and 

 a blazing comet. In the distance near the centre is a point on which the 

 ark is supposed to rest, around, above, and below which the mingled ele- 

 ments are raging with destructive fury, but obeying the Almighty's 

 mandate to keep beyond its limits. The left of the picture consists of 

 the upper portion of an Andean range of mountains, rising to fifteen thou- 

 sand feet, the line beneath to ten thousand feet, the next beneath it to 

 four thousand. These are covered with vast multitudes of the human 

 and animal creation, mingled indiscriminately, and all in confusion and 

 dismay. Beneath them are seen drowning hills, and thousands of living 

 things washing away into the gulf beneath. Beyond the tremendous surges 

 of the raging ocean, curling their foaming heads and threatning to dash into 

 fragments the mountain chain which opposes them, and engulph it and 

 the millions crowded on it beneath the boiling eddies. Above mountains 

 are bursting, avalanches rolling down, torrents rushing, and enormous 

 masses of rocks falling amid the multitudes. Some are hurrying towards 

 caves for shelter, while those within are hastening out to avoid being 

 whelmed in waters breaking forth from the rocks within. Among the 

 multitude are some in sullen and inactive despair, surrounded by their 

 families, with wolves howling around ; others appear mad with despair, 

 and blaspheme, and many are being pressed, or are plunging headlong 

 into the waves below. 



The colouring is more subdued than is usual with Martin, and great 

 attention has been paid to light and shadow, which is broad, massed and 

 awfully grand. The knowledge of chiaro oscuro is profound, conse- 

 quently the effect is powerful. We must regret, that the picture was 

 not at least three times as large as it is. Notwithstanding, it is an im- 

 perishable monument of genius, for when time has destroyed the frail 

 material, the memory of it will continue in the records of art. 



TO LEILA. 



Our white sail to the breeze is spread. 

 The deep blue ocean smiles ; 



The sky is studded over head 

 With thousand fleecy isles ; 



And every isle a world of bliss, 



Where we might scorn the ills of this. 



Our white sail shivers to the breeze — 



Come, Leila, to the deep — 

 A solitude is on the seas, 



"And Hope our helm shall keep ; 

 The sun, the waves, the fresh bright-air, 

 The power of Love await us there ! 

 Hastings, 1825. 



