A depiction of the father embracing his Prodigal Son, while the indignant brother watches with the servants. Artwork by E. Murillo.

Lk/15:11-32

The Parable of the Lost Son.

11Then he said, “A man had two sons,

12and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them.

13After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.^g

14When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.

15So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.

16And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.

17Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.

18I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

19I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’

20So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.

21His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

22But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

23Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast,

24because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began.

25Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.

26He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.

27The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.

29He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.

30But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’

31He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.

32But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/15

Overview-The Return of the Prodigal Son

Artist – Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Murillo’s great talent for dramatic painting is apparent in this monumental depiction of the familiar parable of the prodigal son, an allegory of repentance and divine forgiveness. With players and props effectively placed to underscore the drama, it is reminiscent of a well-staged theater piece.

The artist selected the essential elements of the story’s climax: the penitent son welcomed home by his forgiving father; the rich garments and ring that signify the errant son’s restoration to his former position in the family; and the fatted calf being led to the slaughter for the celebratory banquet. The larger-than-life, central, pyramidal grouping of father and son dominates the picture, while the richest color is reserved for the servant bearing the new garments. Murillo may have chosen to emphasize that aspect of the parable — symbolic of charity — because of the nature of the commission. The Return of the Prodigal Son was one of eight huge canvases painted for the Church of the Hospital of Saint George in Seville, a hospice for the homeless and hungry.

Murillo’s model was the life around him; part of the appeal of this canvas lies in its human touches — the realism of the prodigal’s dirty feet, the puppy jumping up to greet his master, and perhaps most of all, the ingenuous smile of the little urchin leading the calf.

Review – Bible belters – in praise of Murillo’s Prodigal Son paintings

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/bible-belters-in-praise-of-murillos-prodigal-son-paintings/

Saying the holy name of Jesus is the simplest way of praying always.