William Holman Hunt

William Holman Hunt was an English painter and co-founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848 - a group who studied nature with a quasi-religious devotion, and sought to discover and manifest genuine ideas through their works. The group’s approach was influenced by the spiritual essence found in medieval art, in opposition to the rationalism of the Renaissance style exemplified by Raphael. For Hunt, it was the duty of the artist to reveal the similarities between sign and fact, and in the mid 1850s, he traveled to Jerusalem in search for material and historical facts to further the accuracy of the storytelling within his religious works. Hunt’s works were initially unsuccessful and widely criticized by the public for their garish appearance. Fortunately, Hunt is now remembered for his attention to detail, use of vibrant colors, and elaborate symbolism.