The Prodigal Son (The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ)
Medium
Wood engraving; proof
Dimensions
image: 5 1/2 x 4 5/16 in. (13.9 x 10.9 cm) sheet: 7 5/16 x 6 1/16 in. (18.6 x 15.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1921
Accession Number
21.68.4(16)
Tags
Art Historical Context
This wood engraving, created in 1864 by Sir John Everett Millais and engraved by the Dalziel Brothers, forms part of a celebrated series illustrating *The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ*. Millais, a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, brought his characteristic attention to natural detail and emotional expression to the biblical story of the prodigal son. The scene likely captures a moment of humble labor on the farm, suggested by the presence of men and cattle, emphasizing themes of repentance and redemption central to the parable. As a wood engraving proof, thi...