Artwork
The Prodigal Son Revelling with Harlotsy
The Prodigal Son Revelling with Harlotsy is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Amos Doolittle. It dates from 1814 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left corner in graphite by unknown hand: 10 text at bottom in plate: A. Doolittle / The PRODIGAL SON revelling with HARLOTS / He wasted his Substance with Riotious Living. / published and Sold by Shelton & Kensett, Cheshire, Con. October 24. 1814. / St. Luke 15. Chap. 13. V.
- Markings
- Marked:(partial Indiana map on verso)
About this work
Overview
The Prodigal Son Revelling with Harlots is a hand-colored engraving on wove paper created by Amos Doolittle in 1814.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a lively gathering of five people around a table, with a woman in green and a man in red being prominent figures. The title references the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son, suggesting a narrative context for the scene.
Technique & Style
Doolittle employed cross-hatching to achieve shading and texture, enhancing the colors in the image. The technique contributes to the detailed and nuanced representation of the scene, including the rendering of objects such as wine bottles and a mirror with a gold frame.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
