Murillo’s The Prodigal Son and the art of narrative in Andalusian Baroque painting

This new exhibition, featuring the series of six, recently restored canvases of Murillo’s Prodigal Son loaned to the Prado by the National Gallery of Dublin, explores the development in mid-17th century Andalusia of narrative series from the Bible and hagiographies which required careful, slow and sequential observation. Commissioned by private individuals for domestic interiors or private oratories., the series often depict scenes of banquets and other spaces of social encounter, reflecting the contemporary world of the individuals who commissioned them and formulas associated with other genres, such as landscape, genre painting and still life.

The exhibition includes four paintings from the Prado’s own collection associated with the Dublin series: the “Story of Joseph” series by Antonio del Castillo, which has survived complete; and most of the paintings from the series on “The Life of Saint Ambrose” by Juan de Valdés Leal. A comparison between these works by three of the leading names in Andalusian Baroque painting reveals both affinities and differences with regard to technique, style and approach to narrative.

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, The Prodigal Son Feasting (detail), ca.1660, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin. Photo ©️ National Gallery of Ireland