The Parable of the Prodigal Son. Driven out by His Former Companions 1685

Luca Giordano painted ‘The Parable of the Prodigal Son, Driven out by His Former Companions’ in Italy, sometime between 1634 and 1705. Here, Giordano visualizes a famous parable about a son who squanders his inheritance and suffers the consequences. It’s likely this picture was commissioned for a private home, perhaps to serve as a moralizing lesson for family members. Looking at the image, one can see the former companions of the son driving him away. It isn’t a welcoming scene; rather, it is full of hostility. The theatrical composition and the dramatic lighting create a sense of unease. The architectural details give the story a classical setting. But the scene is universal. This is a story of social exclusion. As historians, we can look at the religious and cultural meanings of the prodigal son story, its interpretations in different times and places, and the social function of such parables. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.