Artwork
The Prodigal Son: Riotous Living
The Prodigal Son: Riotous Living is a print by the Baroque artist Abraham Bosse. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1929.560.2
- Credit line
- Dudley P. Allen Fund
About this work
You see a crowded brothel scene: velvet curtains, wine glasses, and a young man in fancy clothes being pickpocketed by three women while a child watches.
You see a crowded brothel scene: velvet curtains, wine glasses, and a young man in fancy clothes being pickpocketed by three women while a child watches.
This print shows the moment from the Bible where the prodigal son wastes his money. Instead of preaching, Bosse focuses on the trickery, how the women distract him while stealing his purse. It’s less about sin and more about the everyday hustle of 17th-century life.
If you like this, look up subject: france, 17th century for more scenes like it.
Overview
The Prodigal Son: Riotous Living is a print by Abraham Bosse depicting a scene from the biblical parable of the prodigal son. The artwork captures a moment of deception in a 17th-century brothel.
Subject & Meaning
The print illustrates the biblical story where the prodigal son squanders his inheritance. The scene focuses on the trickery of the brothel's inhabitants as they steal from the son, rather than the moral lesson of the parable.
Technique & Style
The brothel is rendered as an opulent interior, with detailed depictions of velvet curtains and wine glasses. The artist's attention to the everyday details of 17th-century life is evident in the scene's characterization and setting.
Context
The print is a representation of a common theme in 17th-century art, where artists explored the morally ambiguous aspects of biblical narratives. The work reflects the artistic interest in depicting scenes of everyday life in France during this period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Abraham Bosse (c. 1604 – 14 February 1676) was a French artist, mainly as a printmaker in etching, but also in watercolour.
