John Martin: Architect of the Sublime John Martin (1789–1854) wasn’t merely a painter; he was a conjurer of landscapes, a weaver of nightmares and visions, and ultimately, one of the most influential figures in the Romantic movement. Born near Hexham in Northumberland, his early life offered little indication of the dramatic artistic destiny that awaited him. Apprenticed to a heraldic coach painter before finding his true calling with…