Jonathan Martin was confined in the state-run criminal lunatic department (the institution which pre-dated Broadmoor) at Bethlem Hospital from 1829 until his death in 1838, following his notorious attempt to burn down York Minster. He was born in Northumberland, the son of a tanner, whose trade he followed. His youngest brother was the popular history painter, John Martin. Another brother was the inventor and pamphleteer William Martin, who signed his work Philosophical Conqueror of All Nations, and Anti-Newtonian.

While in Bethlem Jonathan Martin produced many remarkable pictures. Drawing had always been a natural mode of expression for him, as was writing, and in his work the two are frequently intermingled, though the writing tends to take on a life of its own. Many of his pictures have text on the back as well as the front, often less closely related to the subject of the picture than to his own life story and current predicament.

The Lambton Worm, the main subject here, was a well known legend in the north of England, being more or less a variation on St George and the Dragon. The large head on the right of the picture is a self portrait, Jonathan Martin’s likeness taken by himself by the aid of a looking glass that magnified. In between is the Duke d’Orleans presenting Jonathan Martin, Bethlem Hospital, a sovereign for a Lion’s Head. This must refer to a purchase of one of his drawings, which were much sought after as curiosities. The Duke visited Bethlem on 6 June 1829.