Smarthistory – william holman hunt, the shadow of death

A few years ago, my pearl among women and I spent a couple of days in Manchester. We visited the Manchester Art Gallery. I bought a postcard of it to frame for my office. I love its vivid colours and mixture of realism and symbolism. The painting depicts Jesus as a young carpenter joyfully stretching his arms after a day of physical work.

Hunt said that Jesus:. He has just risen from the plank on which He has been working, and is portrayed as throwing up His arms to realise that pleasant sensation of repose and relaxation. She is shocked to see that the shadow arms fall on a tool rack on the wall in a way that prefigures the crucifixion. While Jesus is depicted as a real, living young man surrounded by wood shavings and the tools of his trade he is also surrounded by symbols related to his divine mission and ironically, the tools by which he will be killed.

William holman hunt paintings

At the top of the picture, a star shaped window recalls the star of Bethlehem. This, together with the gifts of the Wise Men in the large chest that Mary has opened, reminds us that the Nativity, while joyful, is also linked with prophecies of death and suffering. Through the window on the right we see an olive tree symbolising the suffering in Gethsemane.

Holman Hunt also plays with the symbology of conventional representations of the Saviour. In the bottom right hand corner, a red headpiece reminds us of the crown of thorns. The window sill at the back of the room appears to hold a scroll perhaps scriptures prophesying of the Messiah and two pomegranates. Pomegranates are important Jewish symbols connected with the temple as they were depicted on the hems of the High Priests robes and in temple decorations.