This small picture was painted by Solomon when he was only sixteen years old, and thus is his earliest known oil painting. The subject relates to the parable of the prodigal son from the Gospel of Luke. A young man recognizes his errant ways and returns with humility to seek repentance from his father, who welcomes and forgives him. Considering the preponderance of Old Testament subjects in Solomon’s early oeuvre, The Return of the Prodigal Son suggests the young artist’s familiarity with New Testament subjects. Further, one might also conclude that, even as an adolescent, Solomon was aware that he might have to incorporate New Testament subjects into his repertoire to appeal to mainstream Victorian audiences. The recurring motif of the father-son relationship connects this painting to Solomon’s contemporaneous interest in the figures of Abraham and Isaac from Genesis.
The apinting is initialed and dated lower right corner.
