2021/9/08 The Light of the World
The Light of the World, 1853-1854, 60×125 cm, "English > William. Holman. Hunter Collection of Kemble College, Oxford, UK
The Light of the World is Hunt's masterpiece, based on the Bible, depicting the image intricate and accurate, intensely colored, depicting the scene of Christ knocking on the door. Christ appeared in the dawn with a bright lantern in one hand and knocked on a closed door, which was overgrown with weeds and thorns—Hunter's painting, which had been copied millions of times, became a pillar of the hearts of Victorians, an icon of the age, full of symbolism, emotion and surrealism, warm and heavy.
The plot is taken from the Bible. Apocalypse 3:20: Look, I stand outside the door and knock on the door, and if you hear my voice, I will go inside the door, and I will eat with him, and he will eat with me. The door on the left side of the painting never seems to have been opened, it is overgrown with weeds, and the ground at the door is full of thorns. Jesus came to the door at night, dressed in a white robe (representing the Holy Spirit), in a jewel-encrusted garment (representing the priesthood), and with a crown of thorns on his head, and he was performing the duties of a prophet, a priest, and a king, about to awaken those who were sleeping in darkness, and when Christ knocked on the door of a person's heart, He brought light to the heart. The light emitted by the lamp in Jesus' hand symbolizes both the light that awakens man's conscience and the light of tranquility that man emits in the process of redeeming his soul, which brings hope to the world. The head of Jesus Christ also has an aura, a very holy light, and everywhere you go, everything will be overwhelmed by it.
The picture has a luminous effect, a strong appeal, and an atmosphere that deeply moves the viewer. The painting was extremely popular and was also taken to the United States and other British colonies for traveling exhibitions.
Author:William. Holman. Hunter (1827-1910)
Hunter self-portrait
English painter, one of the founders of the pre-Raphaelite school. Born on April 2, 1827 in Chipside, his father was a shopkeeper and did not want Hunter to study painting. So Hunter was only exposed to oil painting after the age of sixteen, when he began to study painting while painting portraits to make a living for himself. Hunter often imitated the works of his predecessors, such as some famous paintings in 15th-century Italy, which played an important role in his life. In 1845, he entered the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and met Milles and Rossetti, who collaborated to create the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, determined to revive the british painting scene. His major works include: "Conscience Awakening", "Shepherd", "Images of Death", "Light of the World" and so on.
His works focus on the observation of the details of the state of nature, depicting the truth of things in a religious spirit.