A NORTH East-born artist once cold shouldered by the London art establishment is the subject of a major exhibition opening in the capital tomorrow.

The exhibition, John Martin: Apocalypse, represents a reappraisal of an artist who was a great populist in his day but was shunned by the Royal Academy and scorned by the influential critic John Ruskin and even by Wordsworth, the poet.

Now, though, Tate Britain boast that this “major” exhibition is the largest display of works by “a key figure in the 19th Century art world” seen in public since 1822.

Martin, who was born in Northumberland in 1789, trained as a coach painter in the North East before moving to London in 1806 where he worked initially as a painter on glass and ceramics.

But he became known for his hugely dramatic paintings of Biblical scenes such as Belshazzar’s Feast and The Great Day of his Wrath.

These paintings toured the world after Martin’s death – on the Isle of Man in 1854 – and thrilled audiences from New York to Sydney.

It is said they later inspired the major movers and shakers in a new artistic medium, cinema.

The London exhibition follows one at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle earlier in the year and it was organised in partnership with the Laing as part of the Great British Art Debate.

This initiative, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, was designed to get people talking about art. The exhibition at Tate Britain, which runs until January 15 next year, is designed to chart “the rise, fall and resurrection of a unique artistic reputation”.

According to the London gallery, it shows how Martin’s populism fits into the story of British art and how his work connects with the culture of today.

John Martin: Apocalypse includes works from around the world and from private and public collections, including 17 paintings from the Laing.