'Ghost of Christmas Past' - Artwork

Here is my concept sketch as well as my finished oil painting for the ‘Ghost of Christmas Past’ in Dicken’s ‘A Christmas Carol’.

The first spirit the ghost of Christmas past appears to Scrooge and explains how he has forged the first link in his chain. Scrooge has lost his way in life. He has turned to apathy and forgotten empathy.

Dicken’s describes the ghost of Christmas Past as “a strange figure—like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man, viewed through some supernatural medium, which gave him the appearance of having receded from the view, and being diminished to a child’s proportions. Its hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle in it, and the tenderest bloom was on the skin. The arms were very long and muscular; the hands the same, as if its hold were of uncommon strength. Its legs and feet, most delicately formed, were, like those upper members, bare. It wore a tunic of the purest white; and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt, the sheen of which was beautiful. It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand; and, in singular contradiction of that wintry emblem, had its dress trimmed with summer flowers. But the strangest thing about it was, that from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light”.

Hope you enjoy the artwork.

Thanks

Caniglia