Encountering the Prodigal Son in Painting
Many artists from across the ages and around the globe have been inspired by the parable of the Prodigal Son, which some students of the New Testament have identified as the greatest of all Jesus’ parables We are about to encounter the amazing inter-penetration of that story and its profound theological significance with some of the world's greatest artistic expressions. Eventually we will have the opportunity to experience dozens of representations of the parable of the Prodigal Son in art, covering a period of over 500 years, from 1496 to the present.
Let me suggest three approaches to your encounter with these striking artistic depictions of the parable:
1) Read my essay "We Would See Jesus," which a) overviews the artistic representations of the parable, b) focuses closely on two of the most outstanding examples, and c) reflects on the process of doing theology through the binocular lens of the Biblical text and art, by clicking on this link.
2) Explore the art of some of the greatest depictions of the parable by a) studying the paintings, b) considering my questions about what you see in the paintings, and reading my analyses of the paintings, by clicking on the artist's names below.
3) Do an internet search on any of the many others artists who have painted scenes from the parable of the prodigal son. You will find the full list below.
Let me suggest three approaches to your encounter with these striking artistic depictions of the parable:
1) Read my essay "We Would See Jesus," which a) overviews the artistic representations of the parable, b) focuses closely on two of the most outstanding examples, and c) reflects on the process of doing theology through the binocular lens of the Biblical text and art, by clicking on this link.
2) Explore the art of some of the greatest depictions of the parable by a) studying the paintings, b) considering my questions about what you see in the paintings, and reading my analyses of the paintings, by clicking on the artist's names below.
3) Do an internet search on any of the many others artists who have painted scenes from the parable of the prodigal son. You will find the full list below.
Art, Exegesis, and Interpretation: "We Would See Jesus":
An Essay on the Art of the Parable of the Prodigal Son
He Qi
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Riojas
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Janknegt
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Rabodzeenko
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500 Years of "Prodigal" Painting
What follows is a list of some of the paintings (and drawings) produced by some of the world's greatest artists over the last 500 years. You are welcome to do an internet search for any or all of the works listed--Durer Prodigal Son, e.g., should be enough. Explore the biographies of the artists and analyses of their Prodigal paintings as your time and interest allows.
Artist Country Date Content
Albrecht Durer Germany 1496 Far country – among the pigs
Hans Sebald Beham Germany 1538 Far country – among the pigs
Jan Sanders van Hemessen Belgium 1536/1540 Far country – at a tavern
Gerrit von Honthorst Netherlands 1622/1623 Far country – at a tavern/brothel
Johannes Baeck Netherlands 1637 Far country – at a brothel
Francesco Bassano Italy 1570s Return
Leonello Spada Italy 1600 Return
Il Guercino Italy 1619 Return
Salvator Rosa Italy 1640 Far country – among the “pigs”
Bartolome Esteban Murillo Spain 1660 Demand/Departure/Squandering/Pigs,
repentance/Expulsion/Return
Rembrandt Netherlands 1636-1668 Far country, brothel/Return/Return/Pigs/Return
Pompeo Batoni Italy 1773 Return
Matthijs Maris Netherlands 1859 Home
Gustave Dore France 1866 Return
Vasily Polenov Russia 1874 Far country – brothel
James Tissot France 1880 Return/Departure/Far Country/Return /Banquet/Return
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes France 1879 Far country – pigs
John McClellan Swan England 1888 Far country – pigs
Edward Stott England 1916 Return
Thomas Hart Benton United States 1939 Return
Max Beckman Germany 1949 Far country – brothel
John August Swanson United States 1971 Departure/Far country/Gambling/Pigs/Return
Jonathan Quist United States 1975 Return
Frank Wesley India late 20thC Return
He Qi China late 20thC Return
Mary McCleary United States 1996 Banquet
Robert Barnum United States 2000 Return
James Janknegt United States 2002 Far country/Return/Banquet
Oleg Korolev Russia 2003 Return
Andrei Rabodzeenko Kirgizstan 2006 Far Country – pigs
Edward Rojas United States 2000s Far country/Return
Christopher Koelle United States 2008 Return
What follows is a list of some of the paintings (and drawings) produced by some of the world's greatest artists over the last 500 years. You are welcome to do an internet search for any or all of the works listed--Durer Prodigal Son, e.g., should be enough. Explore the biographies of the artists and analyses of their Prodigal paintings as your time and interest allows.
Artist Country Date Content
Albrecht Durer Germany 1496 Far country – among the pigs
Hans Sebald Beham Germany 1538 Far country – among the pigs
Jan Sanders van Hemessen Belgium 1536/1540 Far country – at a tavern
Gerrit von Honthorst Netherlands 1622/1623 Far country – at a tavern/brothel
Johannes Baeck Netherlands 1637 Far country – at a brothel
Francesco Bassano Italy 1570s Return
Leonello Spada Italy 1600 Return
Il Guercino Italy 1619 Return
Salvator Rosa Italy 1640 Far country – among the “pigs”
Bartolome Esteban Murillo Spain 1660 Demand/Departure/Squandering/Pigs,
repentance/Expulsion/Return
Rembrandt Netherlands 1636-1668 Far country, brothel/Return/Return/Pigs/Return
Pompeo Batoni Italy 1773 Return
Matthijs Maris Netherlands 1859 Home
Gustave Dore France 1866 Return
Vasily Polenov Russia 1874 Far country – brothel
James Tissot France 1880 Return/Departure/Far Country/Return /Banquet/Return
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes France 1879 Far country – pigs
John McClellan Swan England 1888 Far country – pigs
Edward Stott England 1916 Return
Thomas Hart Benton United States 1939 Return
Max Beckman Germany 1949 Far country – brothel
John August Swanson United States 1971 Departure/Far country/Gambling/Pigs/Return
Jonathan Quist United States 1975 Return
Frank Wesley India late 20thC Return
He Qi China late 20thC Return
Mary McCleary United States 1996 Banquet
Robert Barnum United States 2000 Return
James Janknegt United States 2002 Far country/Return/Banquet
Oleg Korolev Russia 2003 Return
Andrei Rabodzeenko Kirgizstan 2006 Far Country – pigs
Edward Rojas United States 2000s Far country/Return
Christopher Koelle United States 2008 Return
