The Prodigal

The prodigal son is shown in a sweeping narrative of departure, indulgence, and ruin. At the upper left, the young man leaves a prosperous household with travelers and animals, carrying the wealth he demanded from his father. In the central panel, he spends his inheritance in reckless celebration, surrounded by music, dancing, feasting, and companions. At the lower right, the same son sits among swine, reduced to hunger and humiliation after his wild living has emptied his hands.

The artwork draws from Luke 15, where Jesus tells the parable of a son who abandons his father’s house, squanders his inheritance, and reaches the misery of feeding pigs before coming to repentance. The visible progression emphasizes sin’s false promise: freedom without the father becomes bondage, and abundance without wisdom becomes famine. This scene is well suited for teaching on repentance, grace, youth ministry, forgiveness, and the turning point before the prodigal returns home.