Marstrand worked with religious motifs several times and was especially preoccupied with the clear and simple parables of The Gospel of Luke, easily turned into pictorial representations. The motif of the Prodigal son was used by Marstrand several times - each time with a few changes. In the present version the action takes place in a renaissance interior, in other versions the reunion i situated in bourgois surroundings in Copenhagen.

Exhibited: Kunstforeningen 1898, no. 347. “Exhibition of the Works of Danish Painters”, Exhibition Guildhall, London 1907 no. 224.

Literature: Mentioned and reproduced in Karl Madsen: Wilhelm Marstrand p. 310. “Små Kunstbøger” Wilhelm Marstrand, reproduced p. 56. C. A. Been: Danmarks Malerkunst I, reproduced p. 157. Kunst i privat Eje, bd. I, reproduced p. 217. Th. Oppermann: Wilhelm Marstrand, reproduced. p. 6. Gitte Valentiner: Wilhelm Marstrand - Scenebilleder p. 144–146.

Provenance: Collection of J. W. Frohnes, his auction 1927 no. 23, depicted. Collection of Elisabeth og Theodor Jensen, their auction Bruun Rasmussen auction 154, 1963 no. 37 reproduced p. 40, and collection of M. K. Gudmundsens sold Bruun Rasmussen auction 666, 1999 no. 187.