The Art of Looking: The Return of the Prodigal Son by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Join a National Gallery educator in this hour-long virtual session on Bartolomé Esteban Murillos “The Return of the Prodigal Son” to gain insights into the artwork and enhance your visual literacy.

The National Gallery of Art’s The Art of Looking program consists of a free series one-hour virtual sessions and interactive conversations open to all, facilitated by National Gallery educators around a single work of art. Participants will be invited to share observations, interpretations, questions, and ideas about the works of art. This session focuses on Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s The Return of the Prodigal Son.

The conversation is designed to deepen the understanding of the painting while enhancing skills in visual literacy and perspective-taking. The session is open to all interested individuals, regardless of prior art knowledge, and is free of charge.

The Return of the Prodigal Son

Murillo’s skill for dramatic composition is evident in his portrayal of the Prodigal Son, a timeless allegory of repentance and divine forgiveness. The scene is staged with a theatrical flair, as the arrangement of figures and elements enhances the emotional intensity of the moment. Focusing on the pivotal moment of the parable, Murillo captures the return of the repentant son, embraced by his forgiving father. The son’s restored status within the family is symbolized by his new clothes and ring, while the fatted calf is shown being led toward the slaughter for the celebratory feast. The central, pyramid-like grouping of father and son dominates the composition, with the most vibrant color given to the servant holding the new garments. This emphasis on charity and restoration may have been Murillo’s way of highlighting a key theme of the parable, especially considering the nature of the commission.

The Return of the Prodigal Son was one of eight large-scale works created for the Church of the Hospital of Saint George in Seville, a hospice dedicated to the care of the homeless and hungry.