The Prodigal Son, 3rd plate (L'enfant prodigue)
1826 to 1850
Medium
etching and drypoint
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of George Matthew Adams in memory of his mother, Lydia Havens Adams
Accession Number
1953.12.36
Art Historical Context
**The Prodigal Son, 3rd Plate (L prodigue)** Alphonse Legros *The Prodigal Son 3rd Plate (L'enfant prodigue)* captures a pivotal moment from the beloved Biblical parable in Luke 15, where the wayward son returns home to his forgiving father. As the third installment in a series, this etching and drypoint print, dated between 1826 and 1850, showcases Legros's mastery of intimate, narrative-driven imagery. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's of Prints (CG-E it was generously gifted by George Matthew Adams in memory of his mother, Lydia Havens Adams, highlighting its enduring appeal to col...
About the Artist
Alphonse Legros · 1837–1911
Alphonse Legros (1837–1911) was born in Dijon, France, and trained in Paris at the drawing school of Horace Lecoq de Boisbaudran, whose unconventional teaching method — which emphasised memory drawing and acute observation over academic convention — would leave a lasting mark on Legros's practice. At Lecoq's school he formed friendships with Jules Dalou and Auguste Rodin that endured throughout hi...