The idea of the resurrection fascinated Spencer. Although his pictures of the subject predated the war, release from military service made him feel as if he had been “born again”, a sensation that inspired him to paint the subject on many more occasions. Ever since his days at the Slade, Spencer venerated early Italian painters. From Botticelli he learned how biblical scenes could be transplanted to the present day, and how to show a story unfolding over time. And it is in narrative compositions such as this, with its complex layering of characterful figures, that the influence of Giotto and Fra Angelico can be seen. The main purpose of this painting, Spencer wrote, was to “suggest an idea of different kinds of ‘looking’.” Affection, devotion, wonder and sympathy can all be seen on the faces of these characters, who in the composition are separated by a central granite headstone that represents the division between heaven and earth. They are experiencing a resurrection through earthly experiences and human relationships. (https://www.1843magazine.com/culture/the-daily/the-passion-of-stanley-spencer)