There is a stained glass window in Kettlewell church which is a depiction of the pre-Raphaelite artist William Holman Hunt's famous artwork 'The Light of the World', painted in the 1850s. (The original painting is in Keble College, Oxford, although Hunt also painted a couple of other versions.) It shows Christ, with a lamp, standing at an overgrown door, knocking. The door represents the human soul. It only has a handle on the inside, which cannot be opened from the outside. The rusty nails and hinges overgrown with ivy denote that the door has never been opened and that the figure of Christ is asking for permission to enter. Many people think the painting is related to the Bible verse John 8:12 'I am the light of the world' and no doubt that was in Hunt's mind, but it actually refers to Revelation 3:20, and the verse is written on the painting.
'Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.'
Beautiful stained glass window - and full of meaning!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely window, and thanks for giving the quote that goes with it.
ReplyDeleteI'd never realized that about the door. Good image.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful.
ReplyDelete