They Beheld the Form of Jesus of Nazareth 1910

Curator: Here, we have Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale's 1910 oil painting, "They Beheld the Form of Jesus of Nazareth." Editor: My first impression is a scene bathed in almost supernatural light. There's a real sense of wonder and reverence radiating from the figures clustered around what seems to be a body lying on a bier. The palette, dominated by reds, blues and greens, is quite striking too. Curator: Indeed. Fortescue-Brickdale was associated with the later Pre-Raphaelites. So her aesthetic often leaned towards romanticized interpretations of historical and literary themes. She exhibited widely and made art to convey symbolic moral meaning, deeply engaged in the public's moral code. The Pre-Raphaelites, in the early 20th century, were actually really popular with public audiences! Editor: Exactly, that history makes it a critical viewpoint on that public moral. The positioning of Christ there, laid bare in his wounds for witnesses and observers – in itself an argument, in a public forum. Consider this narrative and how it situates suffering, and asks audiences to reckon with it! It's hard to ignore the clear implications on gender. Curator: She did use oil paint to bring her history painting to life in an exquisite, almost photographic manner. I can’t help thinking that, as a woman working in a time when art and history were heavily male domains, these themes are her strategy. She brings feminine subjects and historical perspective in this visual argument. Editor: Yes! I find myself wondering about her choices to illustrate Biblical narrative art. Given that religion's complex role in dictating patriarchal societal roles, does she intend us to reflect on the limitations that a conventional setting had in her own context? Curator: That is really interesting to think about, definitely. And as someone engaged in understanding socio-political contexts, what is your perspective of her composition style? Editor: Absolutely; with Brickdale using narrative art like this she invites interpretation around social themes – so this allows it to sit within this frame of historical and contemporary understanding. These early paintings can resonate even more as time passes by! Curator: Agreed! Editor: Agreed! This allows her interpretation and its resonance to expand, and perhaps question how society perceives its value systems.