The Evening of the Deluge
circa 1843 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
An oil painting on canvas that depicts a dramatic, atmospheric scene with a swirling sky, birds in flight, and a dark, silhouetted foreground featuring primitive shelters. The work is characterized by the artist's signature use of light and color to evoke a sense of sublime elemental power.
Did you know?
This painting is part of a pair with 'The Morning of the Deluge,' both exploring themes of cataclysmic destruction and the power of nature as described in the Book of Genesis. Turner’s late style, which famously dissolved forms into light and atmosphere, was often criticized by contemporary viewers who felt his paintings looked 'unfinished' or like 'soapsuds and whitewash.'
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The Evening of the Deluge
Joseph Mallord William Turner, circa 1843
