The Prodigal Son

1864

Capturing the biblical moment of the Prodigal Son's return, this illustration radiates the intense emotion typical of the Pre-Raphaelite style. Millais depicts the ragged, kneeling son—still dressed in the rough clothes of his lowest point—being embraced by his forgiving father in a rustic farmyard setting. Created for the 'Parables of Our Lord' in 1864, it shows how the artist brought his signature realistic detail, like the resting cows in the background, to religious storytelling.

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