De thuiskomst van de verloren zoon

Gregorius employs the light, decorative brushwork typical of Rococo, using soft color contrasts—reds, blues, and greens—to delineate figures against a distant, hazy backdrop of mountains, palm trees, and a cloud‑filled sky. The delicate handling of light and the fluid rendering of drapery convey both intimacy and a sense of movement.

A native of the Flemish‑Belgian region, Gregorius was known primarily as a portraitist before becoming director of the Bruges Academy of Fine Arts. He completed this narrative work during the height of Rococo’s popularity, and it now belongs to the collection of the Groeningemuseum in Bruges.

The painting reflects the 18th‑century European fascination with biblical subjects rendered in a secular, decorative manner. By situating the biblical encounter in a pastoral, almost theatrical setting, Gregorius aligns the work with contemporary tastes for moralizing scenes that also serve as elegant genre pieces.