Jonah Preaching before Nineveh

Jonah Preaching before Nineveh from 1840 by John Martin depicts the prophet warning the great Assyrian city of its impending destruction. The subject combined Martin's biblical interests with his ability to depict vast ancient cities and crowds. Martin's technique involved meticulous architectural planning of his vast compositional schemes, using perspective rulers and careful underdrawing before building up his luminous skies with thin glazes of oil color.

The tiny figure of Jonah before the massive city creates Martin's characteristic contrast between the human individual and overwhelming architectural or natural forces.