Not currently on display at the V&A

Return of the Prodigal Son

Roundel
ca. 1530 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The roundel here depicts an event in Jesus Christ's parable of the 'Prodigal Son' which is related in the Gospel of St Luke. Jesus tells the story of the rich man with two sons, the younger of whom asks for his inheritance before his father's death. Given this inheritance, the son embarks on a life of debauchery, losing the money in gambling, drinking and amoral women. The son then has to earn a meagre living as a swineherd, swines being declared unclean in Judaic law. This would represent the lowest point of his life. Co-workers encourage him to return to his father's house, where he might obtain better employment. Seeing him approaching, the father embraces his son and welcomes him back into the household, calling for the fatted calf to be killed for a banquet that evening in his honour. The eldest son who had remained home, working hard and not touching his inheritance was indignent and upset but his father declared: '...be glad for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; was lost, and is found.'

The scene here depicts the father embracing his son whose clothes are tattered and his labourer's hat lies on the ground before him. The oldest son stands in the background discussing the event with colleagues.

This type of moralising tale became increasingly common during the progression of protestantism in Germany and the Netherlands. Such images were considered to be models of moral virtue and not scenes of superstitious belief. The latter images were rapidly being destroyed as protestantism spread.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Return of the Prodigal Son (generic title)
  • Prodigal Son (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Clear glass painted with brown/black pigment and silver (yellow) stain
Brief description
Clear glass painted with brown/black pigment and silver (yellow) stain. Depicting the Return of the Prodigal Son. Flemish, ca. 1530
Physical description
In the centre, an elderly man in white robes bends over to embrace a young man who kneels before him, his clothes bedraggled and his labourer's hat placed on the ground in front of him. Behind the elderly man stand three men engaged in conversation as they view the scene before them. In the background is a crenallated townscape and on the left a farm labourer stops work to view the event.
Dimensions
  • Taken from register diameter: 9.25in
Credit line
Bought from the Soulages collection.
Object history
Bought from the Soulages collection.
Subject depicted
Literary references
  • Gospel of St Luke
  • New Testament
Summary
The roundel here depicts an event in Jesus Christ's parable of the 'Prodigal Son' which is related in the Gospel of St Luke. Jesus tells the story of the rich man with two sons, the younger of whom asks for his inheritance before his father's death. Given this inheritance, the son embarks on a life of debauchery, losing the money in gambling, drinking and amoral women. The son then has to earn a meagre living as a swineherd, swines being declared unclean in Judaic law. This would represent the lowest point of his life. Co-workers encourage him to return to his father's house, where he might obtain better employment. Seeing him approaching, the father embraces his son and welcomes him back into the household, calling for the fatted calf to be killed for a banquet that evening in his honour. The eldest son who had remained home, working hard and not touching his inheritance was indignent and upset but his father declared: '...be glad for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; was lost, and is found.'

The scene here depicts the father embracing his son whose clothes are tattered and his labourer's hat lies on the ground before him. The oldest son stands in the background discussing the event with colleagues.

This type of moralising tale became increasingly common during the progression of protestantism in Germany and the Netherlands. Such images were considered to be models of moral virtue and not scenes of superstitious belief. The latter images were rapidly being destroyed as protestantism spread.
Bibliographic reference
Cole, William. 'Netherlandish Glass in Ireland', The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries in Ireland 121 (1991), pp. 146-70, pp. 153-54
Collection
Accession number
5653-1859

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Record createdJanuary 26, 1999
Record URL
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