10:21am Sunday 19th August 2007
By Matt Watts
The Reverend Kevin Scott of St John the Baptist Church in New Malden has just returned from a three-month sabbatical studying the use of light in religious art around Europe.
But in fact one of the most celebrated religious paintings has a connection much closer to home.
Holman Hunt's the Light of the World was painted locally between 1853 and 1854 and is rumoured to depict Rev Scott's own church.
Holman Hunt was apparently depressed when he went to Worcester Park Farm, accompanied by fellow painter Millais who he met at the Royal Academy.
He began work on the Light of the World, which symbolised his conversion to religion.
Rev Scott said for many years it was rumoured the doorway in which Jesus is depicted standing is in his church, while others say it is St Mary the Virgin in Ewell.
"It is very much a local legend," he said. "Sadly, no scholar has agreed with that theory. They say it is much more likely to be the door of an old gunpowder mill since demolished by the Hogsmill river.
"Looking at the doorway of the church it is difficult to see that it could have been that which Holman Hunt painted.
"But there is no way of knowing for certain and many people did believe it."
Rev Scott's three month sabbatical in Europe let him study the use of light in divine art.
He spent time in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany and wrote a thesis comparing the way painter Jan Vermeer uses light in his work, and the way religious people use light as a way of speaking about God.
He said it was not Holman Hunt or the link to his church which gave him his interest in divine painting.
"What I was studying in Europe had no direct link to his work. But he is a greatly loved artist who is well respected by scholars."
His trip ended with two weeks in arctic Finland experiencing life with 24-hour sunshine.
He said: "It was a very strange experience to be in a country where it never got dark. People spoke about how in the summer the light brought them to life and gave them energy.
"In comparison people were very depressed in winter. The suicide rate is one of the highest in the world."
He said people had been interested in his association between the feeling light gave them and God.
He added he was now delighted to be back with his family and congregation.
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