The Prodigal Son Squandering His Inheritance - Salomon Savery

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Salomon Savery depicting the moralising scene of the Prodigal Son indulging in excess.

This etching by Salomon Savery depicts a scene from the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son. The composition focuses on a group gathered around a table, engaged in revelry. The figures wear the elaborate ruffs and fashionable attire of the early seventeenth-century Dutch elite. A man at the head of the table raises a glass in a toast, while others interact with a sense of abandon. The scene is marked by the Latin inscription at the base, 'Et Venere et Baccho bona decoquit omnia natus', which translates to 'And through Venus and Bacchus, the son squanders all his goods'. This moralising message warns against the vices of lust and drunkenness, which are presented here as the primary causes of the protagonist's financial and moral ruin.

Savery employs precise line work to define the textures of the clothing, the lace of the collars, and the surface of the table. The interior setting is sparse, featuring a barred window that suggests a confined or perhaps tavern-like environment. The artist uses cross-hatching to create depth and shadow, grounding the figures within the space. The inclusion of a small dog beneath the chair and a birdcage in the background adds layers of symbolic detail common in Dutch genre prints of this period. The work functions as a visual sermon, capturing the moment of excess before the inevitable consequences described in the parable. The print reflects the cultural preoccupation with moral conduct and the dangers of worldly indulgence that permeated Dutch society during the seventeenth century. As a fine art print, this piece offers a glimpse into the technical skill of Savery and the narrative traditions of the era, providing a clear window into the artistic values of the Dutch Golden Age.