"THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD." (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2721, 9 May 1906, Page 58

"THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. " (From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, May 6. A very large number of people hare already been to see Holman Hunt's picture "The Light of the World." The opinions expressed regarding it are* varied, but all are agreed that the colouring is wonderful. Mr Mark Jost. who is in charge of the picture, tells me that in Australia- anc* New Zealand it has already been viewed by about three-quarters of a million people. Tho picture shown is a replica of the original, but larger, and, in the opinion of the artist, it was a bettor work than tho original, which hangs in Keble, College, Oxford. Ruskin has a famous criticism of " The Light of the World," and his verdict, after a long analysis cf its spiritual meaning, leads him to the conclusion : " I believe there are very few persons on whom this picture, thus justly understood, will not produce a deep impression. For my part, I 'think it is one of the very noblest works of sacred art ever produced in thie or any other age." In his " Pre-Raphaelism" and " The PreRaphaelite Brotherhood," Holman Hunt quotes a very different criticism of Ganyle's. Carlyle had called on Hunt jusfe as the picture was completed. He spoke* "in terms of disdain " as he looked ■upon it. Hunb thus reports his caustic remarks : " You call that thing I ween a picture of Jesus Christ. Now, you cannot; gain any profit to yourself except in a mere pecuniary sense, or a profit to anyone else on earth, in putting into eh ape a mere* papastical fantasy like that, _ for it can only Jj-» an inanity or a delusion to everyone that may look on it. It is a poor, misshaped presentation of the- noblest, the brotherliest, and tho most heroic-minded being that ever walked God's earth. Do you ever suppose that Jesus walked about bedizened in priestly vobes and a crown, and with yon jewels on His breast, and a gilt aureole round his head? Ne'er crown or poutifieial robe did tho world e'er «iv« to such as Him. Well, if you mean to represent Him as the spiritual Christ, yon have chosen the form in which He has been travestied from the beginning by worldlinprs who have recorded their o«n ambition's aches, repeating Judas's betrayal to the hitjh priests. You should think frankly of His antique, hproio soul. If you reaped His character at all. you v.-ouldn't try to make people go back and* worship the image that the priests have invented of Him to keep men's silly souls in meshes of slavery and darkness. Don't you see that you're helping to make people believe what you know to be false — what you don't belie yourself? 'Tis only empty make-believe, mere protended fancy, to do tlio like of which is the worst of cceupae tions for a man to take to."