The Black Christ<br>by Ronald Harrison

Ronald Harrisons oil painting, The Black Christ, caused an immediate stir when it was unveiled in Cape Town in 1962. The young artist chose Chief Albert Luthuli as a model for the face of the Christ, and modeled the two centurions on John Vorster and Hendrik Verwoerd, arch-proponents of apartheid. For this bold act of worship and defiance, and his subsequent refusal to divulge the whereabouts of the painting, Ronald Harrison was incarcerated, tortured and harassed. In an unusual twist of fate, the painting was not confiscated, but successfully hidden and smuggled abroad, where it played a key role in raising funds for victims of apartheid, including the Rivonia treason trialists. The miraculous recovery of the painting and its return to South Africa after more than 30 years are a part of the dramatic story of The Black Christ.

Title: The Black Christ -- A Journey to Freedom

Author: Ronald Harrison

Publisher: David Philip Publishers

Paperback, 180 pages

ISBN: 9780864866875