This painting shows scenes of desperation and suffering in the face of the flood, which God unleashed upon the earth to restore the goodness of his creation, as described in the book of Genesis, chapters 6–9. Turner’s depiction of a powerful Black man rescuing a drowning white woman illustrates the free will of all people to act independently. When a print of this picture was made in 1828, it was dedicated to Lord Carysfort, a prominent advocate for the abolition of slavery.
An in-depth analysis of JMW Turner's The Deluge via First Art Museum's YouTube channel.
Related works
Collection
Not in ACMI's collection
Previously on display
13 November 2022
ACMI: Gallery 4
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
LN189656
Curatorial section
Light → Spiritual Light
Measurements
1429 x 2356 mm
Object Types
Painting/Pictorial
Materials
Oil paint on canvas