Artwork
Roundel with the Prodigal Son among the Swine
Roundel with the Prodigal Son among the Swine is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This circular painting depicts a solitary man, identified as the Prodigal Son, in a rural setting.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The artwork depicts a scene from the Parable of the Prodigal Son, illustrating the moment when the younger son is shown among swine.
The artwork depicts a scene from the Parable of the Prodigal Son, illustrating the moment when the younger son is shown among swine. As a work of religious art, it visualizes the biblical narrative in which the protagonist, having squandered his inheritance, is reduced to destitution and forced to feed pigs. The imagery centers on the man among the pigs, representing his fall from grace and his suffering before his eventual repentance.
Created around 1530, this anonymous painting interprets the scriptural story with an emphasis on humility, loss, and the human condition within a religious framework.
History & Provenance
Created in 1530, this religious painting depicts the Parable of the Prodigal Son, illustrating the moment the protagonist is among swine. It is attributed to an anonymous artist, with no creator identified in the available records. The roundel is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Details of its original commission, early ownership, and full provenance are not provided in the source material, and the sources record neither a specific accession number nor any exhibition history.
Overview
This circular painting depicts a solitary man, identified as the Prodigal Son, in a rural setting. Dressed in simple attire and holding a stick, he appears weary and despondent as he sits among four pigs feeding from a dish. The scene, framed by bare trees, rocks, and a fence, conveys a quiet, somewhat melancholic atmosphere, emphasizing the man's isolation and hardship.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a subtle use of light and shadow to create depth and model the forms within the roundel. Soft transitions from light to dark are particularly evident on the man's face and the pigs, enhancing their three-dimensionality and contributing to the overall somber mood. This careful rendering of light emphasizes the man's pensive expression, drawing the viewer's attention to his emotional state amidst the quiet, rustic environment.
Artist & collection
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