The Return of the Prodigal Son (1668)
Oil on canvas (262 × 206 cm) — 1668-69
Hermitage, St.Petersburg
Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn1606 - 1669
North-Netherlandish painter, draftsman and etcher. Most sources claim he was born on 15 July 1606, although there is written evidence in which he himself mentions 1607 as his year of birth.Born in Leiden into a middle class family, Rembrandt becomes a pupil of the painter Jacob van Swanenburgh. In 1624, he studies in Amsterdam in the studio of Pieter Lastman, who will greatly influence his artistic development. Some say it is Lastman who illustrates to Rembrandt Caravaggio's use of chiaroscuro – the application of light and darkness to suggest depth.
After returning to Leiden, Rembrandt sets up shop with his friend Jan Lievens. In 1631 he moves to Amsterdam once again. His talent to read faces wins him many portrait assignments. He marries Saskia van Uylenburgh in 1634; her father, a prominent art dealer, secures him even more work.In 1639 Rembrandt and Saskia move to the Breestraat, a main street bordering on the Jewish neighborhood, where the couple sets up household in the present Rembrandt House Museum.
Their new address facilitates Rembrandt's study of Jewish faces, making his biblical work even more striking. All in all, Rembrandt creates over 300 works on biblical subjects; most of them drawings and etchings. More on Rembrandt's biblical work.
As in everything he does Rembrandt's biblical work reaches far beyond and above everybody else's when it comes to capturing the decisive moment of a particular episode.
Rembrandt paintings initially are rather baroque but after around 1640 they became more austere. The famous Night Watch (1642) may be considered as one of his last truly baroque works. He now concentrates on showing depth of emotions in his figures. This change may be related to tragic events in his personal life: the early death of three of his children, and of Saskia in 1642.
Around 1647 Hendrickje Stoffels moves in with him. They cannot keep up the cost of living. The house is heavily mortgaged and Rembrandt spends large amounts on financing his vast collection of prints by other artists. In 1658 he is forced to move to a smaller house.
In his last years Rembrandt produces several masterpieces, such as David and Saul (1657) and The Jewish Bride (1665). Hendrickje dies in 1663, his son Titus in 1668. Rembrandt dies in 1669 in Amsterdam and is buried in the Westerkerk.
Theological Possibilitythere is a reproduction of this painting in the parish church of St Mary's Castlemaine in Victoria. One priest of the place suggests that we look a the hands of the father. He interprets one to be a feminine hand and the other, masculine. He opines that Rembrandt might have done this deliberately to show a balance in God's nature, both of strength and compassion.
What do you think?
Religious Art Exhibition in the
John Garratt Bookroom.
Do you have Religious art you would like to exhibit and or sell? We are planning to
hold an exhibition of religious art in June 2007.
If you would like to exhibit please contact Sandy,our bookroom manager at
sales@johngarratt.com.au
The Retun of the Prodical Son (1668)
Email a friend - copy this page and paste it into your email
Scriptural Source
Luke 15: 1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found thepiece which I had lost.10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he as yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.