Alpheus and Arethusa

Alpheus and Arethusa from 1832 by John Martin depicts the classical myth of the river god's pursuit of the nymph. The watery subject allowed Martin to combine his landscape expertise with mythological narrative and dramatic natural forces. 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 mythological landscape combines dramatic water effects with Martin's characteristic spatial grandeur and theatrical lighting.