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Overview
This print by John Martin (1789-1854) is a good example of the Romantic 'Sublime', art that impacts on emotions and fears. Martin pursued these aims both in panoramic paintings and on a smaller scale in these illustrations to John Milton's classic epic poem, Paradise Lost. He was passionate about technological experimentation and identified with the aspirations of the Industrial Revolution. Consistent with this, he explored as seen here new mezzotint techniques, using soft steel rather than copper.
The 24 mezzotints that Martin produced for Paradise Lost were an instant commercial and critical success, and have remained classics in the medium ever since. They were marketed as having 'all the spirit and finish of the Painter's touch'.
In the episode depicted here (book 4, line 813), Ithuriel and Zephon, the two angels on the left, discovered Satan disguised as a toad, whispering evil thoughts to Eve whilst she lay sleeping. At the touch of Ithuriel’s spear, Satan is transformed into his natural shape.
See:
Art Gallery of New South Wales, 'Eve's drem - Satan aroused', https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/417.2009/
Dr Mark Stocker Curator, Historical International Art December 2018