plate no. 2286

The Shadow of Death

William Holman Hunt, 1873

oil, canvasRomanticismreligious paintingfigureinteriorshadowwoodworkingreligioustools

From the record

Dimensions: 214.2 cm high × 168.2 cm wide
Institution: Manchester Art Gallery
Location: Manchester Art Gallery
Inception: 1873
Materials: oil paint, canvas
Movement: Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

interior space
bracelet
tunic
saw
pumpkin

Wikipedia article Wikidata item Q949567

from the sources

Holman Hunt worked on The Shadow of Death from 1870 to 1873, during his second trip to the Holy Land. en.wikipedia.org
“The Shadow of Death is a religious painting by the English painter William Holman Hunt, on which he worked from 1870 to 1873, during his second trip to the Holy Land.”
The painting shows Jesus as a young man before his ministry, working as a carpenter. en.wikipedia.org
“It depicts Jesus as a young man prior to his ministry, working as a carpenter.”
The shadow cast by Jesus's outstretched arms falls on a spar with hanging tools, prefiguring the crucifixion. en.wikipedia.org
“The shadow of his outstretched arms falls on a wooden spar on which carpentry tools hang, creating a "shadow of death" prefiguring the crucifixion.”
Mary is shown from behind looking up at the shadow, having been looking into a box holding the gifts of the Magi. en.wikipedia.org
“His mother Mary is depicted from behind, gazing up at the shadow, having been looking into a box in which she has kept the gifts given by the Magi.”
The painting was widely popular and reproduced as an engraving, and the resulting profits allowed the original to be donated to Manchester in 1883. en.wikipedia.org
“The profits made possible the donation of the original to the city of Manchester in 1883.”
The diarist Francis Kilvert disliked the painting after seeing it on display in 1874, calling it theatrical and detestable. en.wikipedia.org
“I thought the picture theatrical and detestable and wished I had never seen it.”
The original painting was donated to the city of Manchester in 1883 and is held by the Manchester Art Gallery. en.wikipedia.org
“The original was donated to the city of Manchester in 1883, entering the collection of the Manchester Art Gallery, where it resides to this day.”
Hunt's third and final version was commissioned by the art dealers Thomas Agnew & Sons in March 1873. en.wikipedia.org
“The third and final version was commissioned by the art dealers Thomas Agnew & Sons in March 1873.”

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures and objects.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and areas of color using thin washes of paint.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to build up the shadows and highlights.
step 04
Focus on accurately rendering the anatomy of the figures, paying attention to muscle structure and skin tones.
step 05
Develop the textures of the wood, fabric, and tools using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the details of the faces and expressions to convey the emotional narrative.
step 07
Pay close attention to the cast shadow and its impact on the overall composition.
step 08
Add final glazes and highlights to enhance the depth and luminosity of the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · Prussian blue · alizarin crimson · cadmium yellow

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and titanium white, adjusting the proportions for highlights and shadows. Use raw umber and Prussian blue for darker shadows. Mix alizarin crimson and burnt sienna for the red tones.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·anatomical rendering
·textural brushwork

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figures
→Inaccurate rendering of skin tones
→Overworking the details before establishing the overall values
→Ignoring the impact of the light source
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (24x36 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, Prussian blue, alizarin crimson, cadmium yellow)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·Rags