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The Prodigal Son in Misery.

Date1845-1846

MediumLithography; printer's ink and watercolor on wove paper

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (image height x width): 11 15/16 x 8 5/8in. (30.3 x 21.9cm)
Sheet (height x width): 14 1/8 x 10 1/16in. (35.9 x 25.6cm)

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Samuel St. John Morgan

DescriptionA young man wearing a coat, shirt, breeches, hose, slippers, and a hat is seated on a bank in what appears to be a pig sty. His clothes are torn and ragged. Two pigs eat from a wooden trough at the right. Another pig stands in the foreground near a whip. The head of a fourth pig is visible behind the wooden shelter in the right background. A board fence and a large tree are in the left background. A house, possibly with a thatched roof, trees, and hills are in the distance.

Object number1957.65.2

InscribedOn recto, lithographed title beneath image, "THE PRODIGAL SON IN MISERY. / 'He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swin [sic] did eat.' / Luke 15.16."

On verso, upper left, in blue ink, "65203". In pencil, lower right, accession number "consv CPC 1987" Dwr 35 [crossed out] 43".

Subject Terms