Martins Album thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case MB2A, Shelf DR81

Martins Album

Mezzotint
second quarter 19th century (made), 1854 (collected)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

One of 84 cuttings from proof impressions of the mezzotints of John Martin, compiled together with three engravings after Martin by H. Le Keux, W. F. Starling and W. R. Smith. Mounted in a volume assembled by the artist, full-bound in tooled leather, lettered on the spine 'Martins Album'. With a letter from an official of the 'Chambre du Roi' of Charles X of France affixed to the inside of the cover. Inscribed in ink throughout, probably by the artist, with titles, etc. Inscribed in pencil on the fly-leaf by the artist's son Charles Martin 'Containing 80 [sic] cuttings from various engravings from the works of John Martin, selected and arranged by himself and in many instances touched by his own hand. C.M. May 1854'.


Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • Martins Album (series title)
  • Joshua commanding the sun to stand still (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Mezzotints and engravings
Brief description
'Joshua commanding the sun to stand still'. One of 84 cuttings from proof impressions of the mezzotints of John Martin (1789-1954), mounted in a leather-bound volume, lettered on the spine 'Martins Album', compiled by the artist. 19th century.
Physical description
One of 84 cuttings from proof impressions of the mezzotints of John Martin, compiled together with three engravings after Martin by H. Le Keux, W. F. Starling and W. R. Smith. Mounted in a volume assembled by the artist, full-bound in tooled leather, lettered on the spine 'Martins Album'. With a letter from an official of the 'Chambre du Roi' of Charles X of France affixed to the inside of the cover. Inscribed in ink throughout, probably by the artist, with titles, etc. Inscribed in pencil on the fly-leaf by the artist's son Charles Martin 'Containing 80 [sic] cuttings from various engravings from the works of John Martin, selected and arranged by himself and in many instances touched by his own hand. C.M. May 1854'.
Dimensions
  • Size of volume height: 43cm
  • Size of volume width: 33cm
Dimensions taken from Victoria & Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1968. London: HMSO, 1969.
Marks and inscriptions
'Containing 80 (Sic) cuttings from various engravings from the works of John Martin, selected and arranged by himself and in many instances touched by his own hand. C.M. May 1854'. (Inscribed in ink throughout, probably by the artist with titles. Inscribed in pencil on the fly leaf by the artist's son Charles Martin.)
Credit line
Purchased from the Estate of the late Thomas Balston, O.B.E., M.C.
Object history
This album, which was Lot No. 137 in Christie's sale of the artist's furniture and works held at Lindsey House, Battersea Bridge, London on the 4th July 1854, is discussed in Thomas Balston p256, 257. The letter affixed to the cover acknowledges the gift of the artist's mezzotints of 'Belshazzar's feast', 'The Deluge' and 'Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still'. Four of these prints were loose and may have been later insertions. E.504 and E.555 are unidentified.
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic reference
Victoria & Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1968 London: HMSO, 1969.
Collection
Accession number
E.535-1968

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest