Christ in the House of His Parents by John Everett Millais Jesus has cut his hand on a nail, leading to a sign of the stigmata, prefiguring the crucifixion.

The young John the Baptist brings in water to wash the wound, prefiguring his later baptism of Christ.

A ladder, referring to Jacob's ladder, is visible leaning against the back wall; a dove standing for the Holy spirit rests on it.

An assistant of Joseph's, representing potential future Apostles, watches these events

The sheep in the fold in the background represent the future Christian flock

Christ's lantern may either stand for the light of truth or of

Christian doctrine - The promise of a new day, a new life once the soul awakens to Christ.

the weeds symbolize the burden of daily neglect, the interference of

laziness, indolence, apathy that prevent man from self-

development

the orchard is the garden of delicious fruit for the feast of

the soul.

The closed door stands for the

obstinately shut human mind.

the kingly and priestly dress of Christ stands

for the sign of His reign over the body and the

soul

The Light of the World (1854) by William Holman Hunt

Our English Coasts by William Holman Hunt. 1852

The Sheep that stand exposed on the cliff of the coastline may, instead, represent either the folly of absent political leaders who have left the nation of England vulnerable to foreign attacks or the stupidity of pastors who left their flock exposed to Papal or Roman Catholic aggression – both great concerns at the time this picture was painted.

These sheep might also be symbolic of human beings unknowingly on the brink of danger

The scene is located on the edge of a cliff near the coast. This by some was considered a not well protected and vulnerable part of the country. The coast therefore may symbolize England’s vulnerability to foreign invasions.