Description- In this painting, there is a lot going on. Their is red smoke covering the sky, and below that, the sea is dark with rough waves. Some buildings are visible through the smoke. The most prominent figures in this painting are the people trying to escape the city to no avail. 

Analysis Of Elements Of Art

- The artist used warm colors to create an intense feeling. The values he used were mostly dark to show the sense of urgency that the people were feeling.

- The illusion of negative space is created by the dark red clouds that are coming from the volcano, the sea in the background, and the ruins of the buildings.

Analysis Of Principles Of Design

- The artist emphasizes the volcano in the background by making the color around it lighter than the rest of the canvas.

- Contrast is created by the change from light to dark in the background by the volcano. The rest of the painting is dark red and black, but this portion is white.

Interpretation- The dark red of the clouds symbolize the fear and anxiety that the people who are trying to escape are feeling. The white color by the volcano shows the root of the power just like when something it's so hot it it white. The rough lines used to create the waves symbolize the citizens' rocky future ahead.

Judgement- I think that this piece was put together beautifully.  Not all beautiful pieces have to be peaceful. The people's physical reactions show their physical as well as emotional anxiety they are feeling. The ruins of the buildings show how all of their hard work to build a society can be brought down by just one thing. The artist represented this historical event perfectly.

Destruction Of Pompeii and Herculaneum

GALLERY

WATCH

Artist- John Martin

Date- 1822

Medium- oil paint on canvas

Current Location- Tate Gallery 

Source- www.tate.org