HOLMAN HUNT'S "LIGHT OF THE WORLD."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 94, 20 April 1904, Page 4

HOLMAN HUNT'S "LIGHT OF THE WORLD."

Mr. Holman Hunt, founder -and letder of the Pre-Raphaelite School, has com* pleted a reproduction, enlarged and slightly varied, of his world-famous picture, "The Light of the World." The figure of Christ in the picture has been heightened, giving an added dignity and power, and the whole effect is said to be supremely noble. Dr. F. J. Frank vail, indeed, in a letter to the "West* minster Gazette," declares that to run* "an agnostic, as to the Christian believer, the symbolism of the picture is superb, its execution a triumph, its appeal overpowering." Dr. Furnivall claims that this new "Light of the World" is the culmination and crown i» of Victorian English art,fjand one of the great creations of the world. To this \ culmination. of the artist's efforts h* narrates an interesting sequel "Happily," says Dr. Furnivall, "many lands are to have the chance of judging ik Among those who saw it a while ago waa Mr. Charles Booth, the writer on London labour and the poor. To aim tha artist's nobler work naturally appealed. And after Mr. Hunt "haci told him that he could hardly hope to sell the picture because he should make it ■-a . condition that the / buyer should not - only leave it to a public gallery after his death, but should speedily send it out to South Africa to preach its mes* sage -to the Boers, whose clergy wera still keeping up their enmity to Ihe English, Mr. Booth went home and wrote to Mr. Hunt that he would not only buy the picture under his condition, but would undertake to send w also to Australia, the United States, and Canada, and then leave it to the Tate Gallery after his death, meantime taking care that careful reproductions of it in colour'should be everywhere on sale at moderate prices. This frank and gerenous offer from a fine man was of course gladly accepted by the artist; and the picture has been already] copied by two well-known firms at JUtham and Enfield. lam sure-that all generous hearts will rejoice at hearing of Mr. Booth's grand generosity ***. will join with mc in thanking him for it and in congratulating Mr, Hdmaa Hunt on thus securing for bis greatest work, completed in the^»f« « his power and age#the it wUI speak to millions of J??-<5°gE . men and those who use h. speech the message of te**4.™* life, that the Light shall Wg?™* soul that opens its door to * c *?°2 of tte Light-bearer and cftftjfj' its darkness into the Sun of Ia». -