One might also point out in passing that Hunt's acceptance of a typological view of history does much to explain how the painter who could portray the disputing Rabbis so critically was not only not anti-semitic, as were many of his countrymen, but even strongly pro-Jewish and an ardent Zionist: because he believed that these Rabbis exist in a prefigurative relationship to all who resist the word of Christ, Christians as well as Jews, he rejected the orthodox Evangelical view of the Jews as an accursed, separated people. In his eyes the Jews who would not accept Christ's gift were no different from the Christians of his own day, and therefore they deserved no special hatred, nor did their heirs.
Last modified December 2001