Artwork dossier: He is Risen. The First Easter by Arthur Hughes

Arthur Hughes, He is Risen. The First Easter. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

He is Risen. The First Easter artwork fact sheet

Artist: Arthur Hughes originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/arthur-hughes/
Artist’s dates: 1832 – 1915
Movement: Pre-Raphaelite British painters returning to bright colour and sharp detail, rejecting everything taught after Raphael.
Period: 19th Century
Artistic style: Magical, glowing coloring
Notable elements or techniques: Well-balanced composition
Subject or theme: The resurrection of Jesus

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Arthur Hughes died in 1915; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1985.

He is Risen. The First Easter — Arthur Hughes

When might this have been painted?

first works
main years
late works

1830
1840
1850
1860
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910

07
817
1827
2837
3847
4857
5867
6877
7883

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 83 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Arthur Hughes (1832–1915) every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1857 Main working years: 1857–1882 Late works: from 1882

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

The Nativity, 1857 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/arthur-hughes-the-nativity-wd-aa-45cqd7pt-en/
Oil Study, 1849 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/arthur-hughes-oil-study-wd-aa-knidphmd-en/
The Annunciation, 1857 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/arthur-hughes-the-annunciation-wd-aa-oyvbppyc-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/arthur-hughes-he-is-risen-the-first-easter-8DP2VR-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Khaki #efd09d

Catalogued palette

#EFD09D
#180A20
#7B2925
#C26D40

These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

Palette: Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
Main colour name: Khaki
Intensity: Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Balanced Harmony How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

Where in the world is this painting looked at?

under 1%
1–3%
3–8%
8–20%
20% and over

This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Arthur Hughes over the last twelve months — 13 countries in all. Where these figures come from

The ten leading countries

1 China 44.2%2,300 visits
2 United Kingdom 15.4%800 visits
3 United States of America 11.5%600 visits
4 Spain 5.8%300 visits
5 France 3.8%200 visits
6 Italy 3.8%200 visits
7 Laos 3.8%200 visits
8 Belgium 1.9%100 visits
9 Switzerland 1.9%100 visits
10 Germany 1.9%100 visits
· 3 other countries 6.0%300 visits

Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

The 20 most looked-at works by Arthur Hughes

1 La Belle Dame Sans Merci, 1861 14.1%900 visits
2 Home From Sea, 1856 7.8%500 visits
3 The Eve of St Agnes, 1856 6.2%400 visits
4 A Music Party, 1861 6.2%400 visits
5 April Love, 1855 4.7%300 visits
6 Phyllis 4.7%300 visits
7 The Pained Heart (aka Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more'')'', 1867 3.1%200 visits
8 Overthrowing of the Rusty Knight, 1894 3.1%200 visits
9 the pained heart 3.1%200 visits
10 A Birthday Picnic 3.1%200 visits
11 Benedick in the Arbor 3.1%200 visits
12 Godrevy Light 3.1%200 visits
13 The Property Room, 1878 1.6%100 visits
14 Wonderland (later version), 1912 1.6%100 visits
15 Ophelia (And will he not come again.'')'', 1863 1.6%100 visits
16 Ophelia, 1851 1.6%100 visits
17 Good Night (later version), 1865 1.6%100 visits
18 The Sailing Signal Gun 1.6%100 visits
19 The Knight Of The Sun 1.6%100 visits
— He is Risen. The First Easter this painting 0.0%0 visits

Together these works take 73.5% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 137 works by this artist, of which 36 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

He is Risen. The First Easter — Arthur Hughes

A Morning of Light and Life

The stone of the tomb lies open, a dark mouth surrendered to the dawn. At the center, a figure emerges, caught in the transition between the stillness of death and the movement of life. He is the focal point, a presence that pulls the gaze upward. Around him, the air seems to hold its breath. Two women stand as witnesses, their bodies angled toward the miracle, their faces turned to catch the light of this new day. Above the scene, an angel lingers, a celestial presence amidst the earthly elements.

The landscape is not a void but a garden of quiet details. Trees and flowers frame the central event, grounding the divine moment in the textures of the natural world. There is a balance here, a careful arrangement of figures that directs the eye through the unfolding narrative of hope.

The Language of the Pre-Raphaelite Eye

The brushwork carries the specific weight of the Pre-Raphaelite tradition, favoring a clarity that feels both sincere and dreamlike. The colors do not shout; they glow with a soft, internal light. This luminosity is achieved through a meticulous approach to draughtsmanship and a devotion to the subtle shifts in tone.

The delicate rendering of floral details in the foreground.

The luminous quality of the skin tones against the shadows of the tomb.

The precise, lyrical lines that define the drapery of the figures.

The soft, atmospheric treatment of the background foliage.

The Weight of the Moment

The painting captures a threshold. It is the precise second where grief meets wonder. The figures are not merely characters in a scene; they are vessels for a profound shift in human experience. The composition relies on a delicate equilibrium, ensuring that the weight of the religious theme is carried by the quietude of the setting rather than by grand gestures. Every petal and every shadow contributes to a sense of profound stillness.

The light arrives, and the shadows retreat.

Artist

Arthur Hughes

Born in London, United Kingdom

early life and training

arthur hughes, a british painter and illustrator associated with the pre-raphaelite brotherhood, was born in london on january 27, 1832. in 1846, he entered the art school at somerset house, where his first master was alfred stevens. later, he attended the royal academy schools, where he met john everett millais and holman hunt, becoming a part of the pre-raphaelite group of painters.

notable works and style

hughes' first picture, musidora, was exhibited at the royal academy when he was just 17. he continued to contribute to the royal academy and later to the grosvenor and new gallery exhibitions almost annually. his best-known works include april love and the long engagement, which depict troubled couples contemplating the transience of love and beauty, inspired by john everett millais's earlier "couple" paintings.

personal life and legacy

in 1855, hughes married tryphena foord, who was his model for april love. he died in kew green, london, on december 22, 1915, leaving behind approximately 700 known paintings and drawings, along with over 750 book illustrations. his daughter, emily, had to destroy his preparatory sketches and private papers due to a shortage of space after her mother's death in 1921.

artistic style and influences

magical, glowing coloring and delicate draughtsmanship characterize hughes' works. he was also influenced by the writer george macdonald, for whom he illustrated some books, and produced numerous illustrations for norman macleod's monthly magazine, good words.

view more of arthur hughes' artworks on AllPaintingsStore

read more about arthur hughes on wikipedia

explore the timeline of art movements to understand the context of pre-raphaelite art

key works and exhibitions

- april love, 1855 (exhibited at grosvenor gallery) - the long engagement, 1862 (exhibited at new gallery) - musidora, 1849 (exhibited at the royal academy)

notable museums and collections

- toledo museum of art (features hughes' ophelia) - victoria and albert museum (holds several of hughes' illustrations)

Arthur Hughes study guide: keep exploring

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Study it on your own wall: He is Risen. The First Easter by Arthur Hughes as a hand-painted oil edition, made to your size

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for He is Risen. The First Easter

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Citing this artwork: He is Risen. The First Easter

MLA: Hughes, Arthur. He is Risen. The First Easter. n.d., https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/arthur-hughes-he-is-risen-the-first-easter-8DP2VR-en/
APA: Hughes, Arthur (n.d.). He is Risen. The First Easter [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/arthur-hughes-he-is-risen-the-first-easter-8DP2VR-en/
Chicago: Arthur Hughes. He is Risen. The First Easter. n.d. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/arthur-hughes-he-is-risen-the-first-easter-8DP2VR-en/
Harvard: Hughes, Arthur (n.d.) He is Risen. The First Easter. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/arthur-hughes-he-is-risen-the-first-easter-8DP2VR-en/

He is Risen. The First Easter — Arthur Hughes

How well do you know this artwork?

Tick one answer for each of the 5 questions below. Each has exactly one correct answer.

1. What is the main focus of the painting 'He is Risen. The First Easter'?
- A A group of women praying
- B The figure of Jesus in the center
- C An angel in the sky
2. According to the description, where is an angel figure located?
- A Above Jesus' head
- B Behind the trees
- C Beside the women
3. What kind of atmosphere does the background of trees and flowers create in the painting?
- A A chaotic atmosphere
- B A serene atmosphere
- C A dark atmosphere
4. In the painting, how many women are standing near Jesus?
- A One woman
- B Two women
- C Three women
5. What is the overall composition of the painting intended to convey?
- A The message of hope and redemption
- B The sadness of the crucifixion
- C The power of the storm

My score: ____ out of 5

Answer key — for the teacher

This starts a fresh printed page, so it can simply be left out of the copies.

1B · 2A · 3B · 4B · 5A

Check any answer against the catalogue record for this painting

He is Risen. The First Easter — Arthur Hughes

Close-looking art worksheet on He is Risen. The First Easter, for students and researchers

Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
Our catalogue files this work under: jesus, women, angel. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
Look back at The Nativity (1857), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
Pre-Raphaelite: British painters returning to bright colour and sharp detail, rejecting everything taught after Raphael. Where can you see that in this work?

Your response

Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

Questions & Answers

Can I see an X-ray view of "He is Risen. The First Easter" by Arthur Hughes?

The X-Ray view of "He is Risen. The First Easter" by Arthur Hughes is on the artwork's X-Ray page: an interactive examination of the image through eleven optical layers.

How does the subject of "He is Risen. The First Easter" relate to Arthur Hughes's usual themes?

Among Arthur Hughes's recorded themes - pre-raphaelite brotherhood, john everett millais, william holman hunt, christian religious themes, romantic tableau style - "He is Risen. The First Easter" brings its own focus on jesus, women, angel, trees, flowers, tomb.

What saturation and intensity does "He is Risen. The First Easter" by Arthur Hughes show?

The colors of "He is Risen. The First Easter" by Arthur Hughes show a clear color presence saturation with a vivid intensity.

What mood would "He is Risen. The First Easter" bring to a space?

With its ethereal mood, "He is Risen. The First Easter" is suggested for a living room.

What palette and what feeling does "He is Risen. The First Easter" combine?

The dark palette of "He is Risen. The First Easter" by Arthur Hughes goes together with its hopeful emotional tone. Color is one of the ways a work conveys feeling.

All the questions and answers about He is Risen. The First Easter