** artists illustrating boys fashions: William Holman Hunt








Artists Illustrating Boys' Fashions: William Holman Hunt (England, 1837-67)



Figure 1.--William Holman Hunt is an important Pre-Raphaelite painter. He is best known for his Biblical themed scenes. This is a society portrait of "Lady Fairbairn with her Children" which Hunt painted in 1864.

William Holman Hunt was an English Pre-Raphaelite painter. Hunt worked for several years as a clerk in a London office whivh he hated. He wanted to paint and finally gained admission to the Royal Academy Schools (1844). While studying there he met John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. They were dissatisfied with the governing academic artistic standards. This was the inspiration for the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (1848). The Pre-Raphaelites were concerned with enfusing their works with moral content and believed in a relism based on nature study and historical accuracy. Hunt many years later wrote about this in Pre-Raphaelitism and the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (1905). Hunt was especially interested in painted Biblical and non-Biblical Middle Eastern scenes. He traveled to the Near East to learn about archaeology and regional landscape. His first trip was an extended one during which he sketched numerous water colors (1854-56). He exhibited these water colors, but also used to paint more elaborate oil works based to varying degrees on his water colors. He was involved with the Old Water-Colour Society for many years. We note some some societ portraits. One of his Christain themed painintings was set in Britain, ""A Converted British Family Sheltering a Christian Missionary from the Persecution of the Druids".

Parents

William was the son of a warehouse manager.

Childhood

William was was born in London We know nothing about his childhood, but we know he was a devout Christian and with a very serious disposition. Theswere traits presumably acquired in childhood. Some describehim as lacking a sense of humor.

Clerking

Hunt worked for several years as a clerk in a London office which he hated.

Pre-Raphaelites

William Holman Hunt was an English Pre-Raphaelite painter.He wanted to paint and finally gained admission to the Royal Academy Schools (1844). While studying there he met John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. He apparently brought them together. They were dissatisfied with the governing academic artistic standards. This was the inspiration for the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (1848). The Pre-Raphaelites were concerned with enfusing their works with moral content and believed in a relism based on nature study and historical accuracy. Hunt many years later wrote about this in Pre-Raphaelitism and the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (1905).

Body of Work

Hunt was especially interested in painted Biblical and non-Biblical Middle Eastern scenes. He traveled to the Near East to learn about archaeology and regional landscape that he planned to paint. His first trip was an extended one during which he sketched numerous water colors (1854-56). He exhibited these water colors, but also used to paint more elaborate oil works based to varying degrees on his water colors. The major results of his travels were 'The Scapegoat', and 'The Finding of the Savior in the Temple', which was exhibited nationally to great acclaim (1860). Hunt's most famous painting, 'The Light of the World', is one of the most appreciatedf Christian images of the 19th and early-20th centuries. Hunt worked at night on this picture as lighting was such an important element. He worked in an unheated shelter in a wood near Ewell in Surrey. He was involved with the Old Water-Colour Society for many years. We note some some society portraits. One of his Christain themed painintings was set in Britain, ""A Converted British Family Sheltering a Christian Missionary from the Persecution of the Druids". Another is 'May Morning on Magdalen Tower' (1890). Another Chritian themed painting is set in Jerusalem--'The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple' (1854-60).









HBC





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Created: 8:14 PM 10/11/2008
Last updated: 9:42 AM 12/2/2018