The Prodigal Son recieves his Patrimony
Date1790
Publisher
John Marshall
(fl.1782 - 1804)
OriginEngland, London
MediumEtching and line engraving on laid paper
Credit LineGift of Mr. Robert Goodwin.
Object number1974-105,1
DescriptionTitle reads: "The PRODIGAL SON receives his PATRIMONY / Published as the Act directs March 8.th 1790 by John Marshall, N.o 4 Aldermary Church Yard, London."Label TextA story of departure, decline, penitence, and redemption, the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) in which a younger son asks for his father for his inheritance early, squanders the fortune, is reduced to extreme poverty, and is forgiven by his father, has been an important subject for artists since the thirteenth century. The story's narrative was a popular subject with both “high and low” audiences, resonating as a warning to the youth and an aspirational example to parents. In this first scene, the son recieves his inheritence in advance of his father's death.
The subject reached the height of its popularity in Europe and the Atlantic world during the 18th century, as family values and structures shifted the position of the father as the totalitarian center of the family to a focus on children. The works of Rousseau and Locke encouraged nurturing and egalitarian familial relationships over strict discipline and harsh treatment. Despite the son’s failures and lack of judgement, the father’s forgiveness represents the ideal welcoming and compassionate family unit.
