Fall of the Walls of Jericho, from Illustrations of the Bible 1834

This is John Martin’s print, ‘The Fall of the Walls of Jericho,’ part of his series, Illustrations of the Bible, made in the early 19th century. The image shows a story from the Old Testament book of Joshua. It depicts the Israelite army marching around the city of Jericho for seven days, and on the seventh day, the city walls dramatically collapse, allowing the Israelites to conquer it. Martin made this print in Britain during a period of intense religious and political debate. Britain had a state-sponsored church, but also many nonconformist Protestant groups. Martin’s dramatic style chimed with the more theatrical styles of preaching that were gaining ground at the time. His art appealed to people who sought a more emotional, spectacular form of religious expression. Understanding this artwork requires us to research the religious and social context in which it was made. Through careful historical research, we can gain a richer appreciation of its original meaning and purpose.