A prodigal son - Блудный сын
A dissipated man, one who spends his time in
pleasure and extravagance, but afterwards repents and
is forgiven, may be referred to as a prodigal son. The
phrase comes from the Gospel parable of the Prodigal
Son. It runs thus: a man divided his fortune between
his two sons. The younger son left the native place
and squandered his portion of the fortune. After a time
of want and poverty he came back to his father’s
house. The old m an made a feast in his honour, killed
a fatted calf to welcome him home and gave him the
best clothes.
The elder son who was working in the field heard
the music and dancing and asked his father, “Why did
you never give me anything so that I might make m erry with my friends? But as soon as your son came you
killed for him the fatted calf.” “You are always with
me,” replied his father, “ and all that I have is yours.
But your brother was dead, and is alive again; he was
lost, and is found.”
The parable was the subject of many famous pictures. The Prodigal Son is represented when leaving
home, feasting, begging, returning to his father’s house.
The last subject w'as treated by Murillo and Rembrandt.