Artwork
The Sower, Parable of Christ
The Sower, Parable of Christ is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Master of the Prodigal Son. It dates from 1563 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Overview
The work titled The Sower, Parable of Christ is an oil painting executed in 1563 by the Flemish artist known as the Master of the Prodigal Son. Created in Antwerp, the piece illustrates the biblical parable of the sower and is presently part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a lone figure scattering seed across a cultivated field, his gaze lifted toward the sky, suggesting contemplation of the spiritual lesson behind the act. The surrounding landscape, with distant hills, a village, and a meandering stream, reinforces the theme of sowing both literal and metaphorical fruit.
Technique & Style
Rendered in oil, the painting employs a warm palette and careful modeling to give depth to the terrain. Subtle chiaroscuro creates contrast between illuminated areas and shadowed ground, while fine details—such as birds in flight and scattered trees—enhance the sense of a tranquil, lived environment.
History & Provenance
The Master of the Prodigal Son, active in Antwerp between roughly 1530 and 1560, headed a sizable workshop and was a prominent figure in Flemish Mannerism. The painting, dated 1563, reflects the early Baroque influences spreading from Italy at the time. It entered the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp’s holdings in the 20th century, where it remains on display.
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Artist & collection
Artist
The Master of the Prodigal Son (fl. c.1530 – c.1560), was the notname given to a Flemish painter and designer of tapestries and stained glass. He was active in Antwerp where he operated a large workshop between 1530 and…
Gleichnis von den bösen Winzern (Oktober)
Parable of the Prodigal Son
Abduction of Ganymedes
Landscape with the Judgement of Paris
Kreuztragung Christi
The fight against death and time
Landscape with the Good Samaritan
Absaloms death (2 Samuel 18: 9-15)
Hunter and Horsemen on a Wooded Road, with a Village in a Valley beyond