La despedida del hijo pródigo, de Murillo (Museo del Prado)

Executed in the tenebrist vein of Spanish Baroque, the painting employs stark chiaroscuro to model forms and direct attention to the illuminated figures against a darkened background. Murillo’s handling of light creates a dramatic contrast that accentuates the red cloak and the faces of the onlookers, while the softer rendering of distant water and landscape provides depth without detracting from the central narrative.

Created in the latter half of Murillo’s career, the canvas entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Murillo has been consistently accepted by scholars, and the work has been documented in the museum’s catalogues since the 19th century, reflecting its recognized place within the artist’s religious oeuvre.

The painting’s tenebrist approach mirrors the influence of Caravaggio’s followers, adapted to Murillo’s softer, more compassionate sensibility.

Murillo, a native of Seville born in 1618, was a leading figure of the Spanish Baroque, known for both devotional subjects and genre scenes. *La despedida del hijo pródigo* aligns with his frequent engagement with biblical narratives, a genre that catered to the Counter‑Reformation’s demand for emotionally resonant religious imagery. The painting’s tenebrist approach mirrors the influence of Caravaggio’s followers, adapted to Murillo’s softer, more compassionate sensibility.