The Kingdom of Heaven Suffereth Violence and the Violent Take it by Force

After Evelyn married William De Morgan in 1887, she became increasingly religious, under the influence of her mother-in-law Sophia, who was a Spiritualist and practising Medium.

This painting takes its title from the Gospel of St Matthew 11:12 and is an allegory of the journey of the soul from its earth-bound body to the spirit world of the spheres.

At the base of the painting, all is sombre and grey. The human figures are stooped and in despair and the winged spirits appear old and in pain, bound to their earthly bodies and unable, or unwilling, to gather the moral strength to ascend heavenward.

As our eyes rise to the next level, colour appears in the form of a crowned figure in purple who – through death – has broken her chains and left her earthly body and its ties behind. In contrast, the figure to her left, although free of her earthly body, wears a blindfold and cannot yet see the path to heaven.

At the next level, more colour appears and we see a soul climbing and striving towards the light. To her right is another soul, but she still wears her fetters and cannot seem to climb to the final level.

At the very top are three bright souls who have reached the spirit world and are contributing to the music of the spheres by playing a fanfare. They are watched by a celestial host of winged spirits, encouraging them up towards the light and unity with the Great Spirit.