The painting “The Prodigal Son in the Tavern” by Rembrandt – the great painter and his wife in the role of biblical heroes

The Prodigal Son in a Tavern is a 1635 painting by Rembrandt Harmenszoom van Rijn. Rembrandt portrayed himself as the prodigal son thoughtlessly squandering his fortune, and his wife as a girl of easy virtue. There is no white color in the picture – a symbol of purity and innocence. The peacock in the background represents the empty vanity of the prodigal son. The protagonist looks cheerful and prosperous: a wide smile plays on his lips, a blush on his cheeks.

The young man is dressed in accordance with the latest fashion: a sumptuous camisole with lace cuffs, a hat with lush feathers, a sword with an exquisitely decorated hilt attached to the belt. With one hand he hugs the girl sitting on his lap, and with the other he raises his glass. The heroine, in contrast to the life-satisfied companion, looks colder and more restrained. The graceful oval and delicate features of the face are emphasized by the curls of dark hair tucked into the hairstyle. Light skin is beautifully set off by a greenish-brown dress. Turning around, the girl carefully looks at the viewer, as if warning about the coming retribution.

Author: Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669).
Year of writing: 1635
Size: 161 x 131 cm.
Style: Baroque.
Genre: Religious.
Technique: Oil painting.
Material: Canvas.
Location: Gallery of old masters, Dresden.

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn – famous Dutch master of fine arts

He showed talent in various genres of painting: from landscape to portrait. Being in the prime of his popularity, he creates the painting “The Prodigal Son in the Tavern” based on the parable from the Gospel of Luke, the characters of which – father and son – personify God and a Christian who apostatized from the faith. The prodigal son takes his inheritance and goes on a rampage, quickly squandering his wealth on dissolute entertainment. When, in extreme need and hunger, he goes to his father with repentance, he gladly accepts the erring one back into the family.

A year later, Rembrandt again refers to this story in the etching “The Return of the Prodigal Son”, and in 1666 creates a painting with the same name. “The Prodigal Son in a Tavern” is the only painting by the Dutch master where he is depicted with his wife. During this period of his life, the artist was happy in family life, which he reflected on the canvas. According to one version, Rembrandt planned to work with a large number of characters, but decided to leave only himself and his wife, cutting off the left side of the canvas with his own hand.