The Shadow of Death
1873-74
Medium
Oil on panel
Dimensions
104.5 × 82 cm (41 × 32 1/4 in.); Framed: 137.2 × 115.9 × 9.6 cm (54 × 45 5/8 × 3 3/4 in.)
Classification
oil on panel
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
260424
Art Historical Context
William Holman Hunt’s *The Shadow of Death* (1873–74) is a powerful example of Pre-Raphaelite religious painting. As a member of the movement, Hunt was known for his meticulous attention to detail and deep interest in biblical subjects. Painted in oil on panel, the work reflects the artist’s commitment to luminous color and precise rendering, techniques that allowed him to convey both spiritual meaning and everyday realism. The composition centers on the young Jesus in a carpenter’s workshop, where his outstretched arms cast a shadow resembling a cross on the wall behind him. This striking vi...