Studies for the Christ child in 'The Triumph of the Innocents'
William Holman Hunt 1827-1910
Red and black chalk heightened with white, drawn in 1879
Accession number WAG 7242
Purchased by the Walker Art Gallery, 1969.
This drawing for the baby Jesus in 'The Triumph of the Innocents' shows the pose that Hunt finally used in the painting. The model was Holman Hunt's son Hilary. This drawing was done in London in 1879 but the painting was not completed until 1887.
Other studies
Red and black chalk, drawn in 1876
Accession number WAG 6596
Purchased by the Walker Art Gallery,1967
Whilst preparing to paint 'The Triumph of the Innocents' in Jerusalem, Hunt obtained local models to pose for the Christ child. This drawing includes several sketches of the figure. They show the artist trying to capture the wriggling movement of the baby, who reaches out to touch his mother's face.
Ink and black chalk, drawn in 1876
Accession number WAG 6595
Purchased by the Walker Art Gallery, 1967
In this drawing of the baby, the body is more highly finished than the head. It is one of several studies for the same figure, drawn in Jerusalem.