Artwork
The Departure of the Prodigal Son
The Departure of the Prodigal Son is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Overview
The Departure of the Prodigal Son, a 1660 oil painting by Spanish Baroque artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, visually interprets a pivotal moment from the biblical Parable of the Prodigal Son. Characterized by its use of chiaroscuro, the work is part of the National Gallery of Ireland's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures the son's departure, conveying emotional depth through the interactions of the figures. A red-cloaked youth on horseback, attended by a servant, bids farewell to a diverse group including an elderly bearded man, a grieving woman, and two finely dressed younger men, evoking themes of separation and impending reckoning.
Technique & Style
Murillo employed soft, nuanced shadows to achieve a sense of three-dimensionality, drawing the viewer's eye to the central figure through the vibrant red cloak set against a muted, earthy palette. The background, with grazing cows and a distant building, is subtly rendered to maintain focus on the foreground drama.
History & Provenance
Created in 1660, the painting reflects Murillo's contribution to the early Baroque movement, blending religious narrative with everyday life scenes. It is now held in the National Gallery of Ireland.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo ( mure-IL-oh, m(y)uu-REE-oh, Spanish: ; late December 1617, baptised 1 January 1618 – 3 April 1682) was a Spanish Baroque painter.
The Prodigal Son taking leave of his Home
La despedida del hijo pródigo, de Murillo (Museo del Prado)
Joseph’s Triumph in Egypt
Joseph Explains the Pharaoh’s Dreams
Christ Carrying the Cross
The Calling of Saint Matthew
King Solomon Receiving the Queen of Sheba
Martyrdom of Saint Venantius of Camerino
Christ collapsing under the cross on his way to Golgotha
Indische Könige huldigen Alexander dem Großen
The adoration of the magi
Absalom propitiating friends (2 Samuel 15:2-5)