Who painted The prodigal son?

The prodigal son was painted by Barent Fabritius in 1661.

Where can I see The prodigal son?

The prodigal son is held by Rijksmuseum.

Artwork

The prodigal son

The prodigal son is an oil painting by Barent Fabritius. It dates from 1661 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Barent Fabritius, a Dutch painter born in 1624, completed the oil work *The Prodigal Son* in 1661.

Barent Fabritius, a Dutch painter born in 1624, completed the oil work *The Prodigal Son* in 1661. The composition presents an interior scene divided into two groups: a well‑dressed man in red and gold converses with a dark‑cloaked figure, while a shirtless youth lies on the floor being tended by a woman and a man in brown. Light streams through arched windows, illuminating faces and garments against deep shadows.

Subject & Meaning

The painting visualises the biblical parable of the prodigal son’s return, emphasizing the moment of reconciliation and forgiveness. The exhausted, naked youth represents the repentant son, while the surrounding figures—family members and servants—suggest a domestic setting in which the moral lesson of redemption is enacted.

Technique & Style

Fabritius employs a chiaroscuro scheme typical of his Rembrandt‑influenced training, contrasting bright highlights on clothing and skin with enveloping darkness. The brushwork is detailed in the textures of fabric and fur, while the overall composition is organized into balanced groups that guide the viewer’s eye across the narrative space.

History & Provenance

Created in the later stage of Fabritius’s career, the canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it remains on public display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s focus on Dutch Golden Age works and the artist’s reputation for biblical and historical subjects.

Context

Fabritius worked alongside his brothers in a workshop shaped by Rembrandt’s dramatic lighting and narrative clarity. The choice of the prodigal son theme aligns with 17th‑century Dutch interest in moralizing biblical stories, often rendered for private devotional settings.

Artist & collection

Artist

Barent Fabritius

Barent or Bernard Pietersz Fabritius (or Fabricius) (bapt. 16 November 1624 – bur. 20 October 1673), was a Dutch painter. Fabritius was born at Middenbeemster, North Holland, the son of Pieter Carelsz. Fabritius. He…