Flemish school of the second half of the 17th century.

Flemish school of the second half of the 17th century.
"The return of the prodigal son".
Oil on copper.
Measurements: 59 x 77,5 cm; 78 x 95,5 cm (frame).

The scene shown represents the moment when the prodigal son returns home after having squandered his fortune in a dissolute life. The central figure in the painting is the prodigal son, surrounded by women in wide-brimmed hats adorned with feathers who are feasting him. The red cloth dragging on the floor symbolizes the sinful life he led, and the jug of wine on the table symbolizes the excesses of the past. The warm, vibrant tones of the robes contrast with the paler colors of the room, which is structured with thick columns around which the figures are arranged. Behind one of them, in a corner, we see the older brother observing the scene from the shadows. He feels hurt because his father has received the bad son with a great celebration and he never thanked him for being a good son. The contrasting lights enhance the brightness of the objects and clothing. The composition is dynamic thanks to the gestural dialogue between the figures. The painting belongs to the baroque tradition of the Flemish school. The parable of the prodigal son, together with that of the lost sheep and the lost coin, forms a trilogy that receives the traditional denomination of parables of mercy.