"THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD."

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12506, 19 May 1906, Page 8

"THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD."

It is to be regretted that the period allotted to Christchurch far tho exhibition _>f "The Light of the World" should have been so mucih shorter than was enjoyed by Auckland and Wellington. The soeno outside the Art Gallory last evening, wheal a crowd of fully a thousand people was slowly being admitted to view the picture, testified to tho interest it has created, and we havo no doubt that if it had remained on | exhibition throughout to-day a very j large number of oountry people would. have welcomed the opportunity of in-. specting the finest work of art that has ever reached this colony. "Whatever other effect Holman Hunt's great work may have had upon those who have seen it in New Zealand, it has undoubtedly brought home to many the mag-' nifioent possibilities, unrealised by them hitherto, of symbolic art. Some may view "Tho Light of the World" merely as a painting, which the genius; of the artist has made one of the great pictures of the age, but there can bo but few who do not realise in it something more than a painting, and ia whom it does not inspire thoughts which oatch something of tihe nobility of the sacred figure. Deep in the hearts of even, the most careless and frivolous is some traoe of reverence for the divine, and in all ages the pictures which have excited the deepest admira- ( tion have appealed to this quality. Sacred art is not greatly in vogue in England just now, but that it appeals to the hearts of the people was indicated by the fact that the "picture of the year" in a recent Royal Academy exhibition was one which bore as title the words "Despised and Rejected of Men." The "story" of the picture was intelligible at a glance. Past the central figure of Christ, bound to a pillar, and shadowed by an angel bearing the bitter cup, a crowd of modern, people, young and

old, went cm their unheeding way, " none so poor to do Him reverence." There is something repellent to many in -this mingling of sacred and worldly scenes and characters, but the leeson of the picture struck home, and though some of the critics condemned it, no picture attracted greater crowds. Wβ have been assured that Mr Booth, the owner of "The Light of the World," did not 6end it round the Empire with any idea that it should be regarded ac a "missionary" enterprise. But it is impossible to think that he did not realise that to a greater or less extent that must be the effect of exhibiting it. At all events, it is not difficult to believe that "The Light of tJhe World" has had a greater effect for good than have some human evangelists. From every point of view the community owes sincere gratitude to Mr Booth for permuting us to see in this far away colony so noble a work of art. The money he has spent on the present tour could in no other way give co much genuine pleasure to bo many thousands of people, and we could

wish that other wealthy Englishmen were moved by the same philanthropic instincts. Failing that, it surely should be possible for some one to undertake the work for them, and to bring out at intervals specimens of the best work of the great artiste. The exhibitions would not, in such cases, be free, as in the present instance, but we pay cheerfully to hear the great singers and musicians who visit us from time to time, , and we do not beliere the public would grudge a reasonable sum to ese a great picture. The idea is at least worth consideration.