William Holman Hunt, 1853
The Awakening Conscience
Inspired by a verse in Proverbs: 'As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart'—this work drips with symbols meant to be ‘read’ to tell a story. In typical didactic fashion, William Holman Hunt builds a scene around a kept woman, a mistress, who is interrupted in mid-tryst by a spiritual revelation. She rises and looks toward the window, a mirror behind her represents both lost innocence and possible redemption. read more
