Hunt, William Holman (fl. 1897) to J. Carlton Still
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05508.141 Author/Creator: Hunt, William Holman (fl. 1897) Place Written: Fulham, England Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 September 1897 Pagination: 4 p. 17.7 x 11.2 cm Order a Copy
Hunt writes in response to a question about Jesus' racial identity. Hunt says that for painters, even if the traditional ideal of Jesus with blue/grey eyes and red/brown hair isn't truest, it is still best. However, he does believe the traditional ideal is truest, because it has Jewish traits similar to Jesus' ancestor, David. He also believes that a "dark person" could not possess Jesus' "inflexible and steady courage...in such transcendent degree." He describes the forged letter of Lentulus as ignorant, vulgar, and wrong.
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