William Holman Hunt, The Awakening Conscience, 1853-4. Oil on canvas. Tate Britain.
William Holman Hunt, The Light of the World, 1853-1854. Oil on canvas. Manchester City Galleries. |
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Minneapolis
Institute of Arts
2400 Third
Avenue South
888-642-2787
Minneapolis
Sin and Salvation:
Holman Hunt and
the Pre-Raphaelite Vision
June 14-September 6, 2009
Sin and Salvation: Holman Hunt and the Pre-Raphaelite Vision offers visitors a rare glimpse into the life and work of Holman Hunt (1827-1910), founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and one of the most celebrated artists of the nineteenth century.
Despite intense public interest in the Pre-Raphaelite movement, this is the first exhibition since 1969 dedicated to the work and ideas of this British painter, and the first exhibition of his paintings outside Britain — an historic opportunity to see his most iconic works. Pre-Raphaelite artworks are among the most popular in British museums and are rarely put on loan. The MIA is the sole U.S. venue for this significant exhibition.
The exhibition features more than 60 works, including Holman Hunt’s most famous paintings: The Light of the World, Lady of Shallot, The Awakening Conscience, and The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple. It also includes works by other leading Pre-Raphaelites such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais, and their associates Arthur Hughes and Ford Madox Brown, as well as textiles used in Holman Hunt’s studio.
Sin and Salvation provides a new interpretation of Holman Hunt’s work, revealing an artist who confronted the pivotal issues of his day: materialism, the crisis of faith, the changing role of women, and the relationship between the sexes. These themes, with their roots in the Victorian era, still resonate strongly with 21st century audiences.
Indeed, Holman Hunt is considered by some to be the Damien Hirst of his day, eschewing Royal Academy conventions and, at age 33, garnering the highest payment for a painting by a living artist in history.
Born in 1827 in London, Holman Hunt attended the Royal Academy in 1844, where he met John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. In 1848 these three artists formed the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, which broke with academic tradition and developed a distinctive medievalizing style characterized by bright colors and hyperrealism. The group challenged the artistic, political, social, and religious values of the time, taking subjects from history, literature, and modern life. Although the group was short-lived, its impact was far reaching.
Holman Hunt enjoyed great success early in his career. In 1853, he underwent a spiritual conversion while painting his most famous work, Light of the World. Shortly thereafter, he embarked on his first journey to the Middle East to imbue his biblical scenes with archaeological accuracy. Holman Hunt would return to the Middle East several times, spending a total of seven years in the region.
Holman Hunt remained true to the original Pre-Raphaelite vision throughout his long career. His paintings are notable for their meticulous attention to detail, luminous and vibrant colors, and elaborate symbolism. In his attempt to revive the brilliance of color found in 15th century Italian art, he developed a technique of painting in thin glazes of pigment over a wet white ground to retain a jewel-like transparency and clarity of color. To share his vision with vast audiences, he became involved in printmaking and actively oversaw the engraved reproduction of his images.
Patrick Noon, Chair of Paintings & Modern Sculpture at the MIA, is curator of the exhibition in Minneapolis. A fully illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition published by the Art Gallery of Ontario. The exhibition was organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario, in association with Manchester Art Gallery, England. |
