The Return of the Prodigal Son – Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Painting of "The Prodigal Son"
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (Spanish, 1617 – 1682 ), The Return of the Prodigal Son, 1667/1670, oil on canvas, Gift of the Avalon Foundation 1948.12.1

This enormous, dramatic painting by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo focuses on the emotional homecoming in the Biblical story of “The Prodigal Son” in which youth and money make a bad combination.

Murillo painted this as one of eight paintings for a charitable hospital in Seville and we’ll find how the king of Spain’s top official tried to “borrow” it to place in a royal museum. We’ll also discover its connection to Napoleon Bonaparte and a guy nicknamed “Joey Bottles.”

SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is “Adagio in G minor” composed by Tomaso Albinoni/Remo Giazotto and performed by Noh Donghwan. Courtesy of musopen.org

The Prodigal Son information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.34956.html   

“Joey Bottles” article
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/nyregion/new-jersey/26bonapartenj.html

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

Recommended Reading

Spanish Paintings of the Fifteenth through Nineteenth Centuries (PDF)

03 The Boating Party – Cassatt

The Boating Party
Mary Cassatt (American, 1844 – 1926 ), The Boating Party, 1893/1894, oil on canvas, Chester Dale Collection

Today, I’ll be looking at Mary Cassatt’s “The Boating Party.” This large painting represents a big break in style for Cassatt. She was one of the few American Impressionists in Paris as well as one of the few American women working as professional artists. She’s best known for her intimate domestic scenes of mothers and children but we’ll find out how an exhibit of Japanese prints and summers on the Mediterranean influenced her to try new techniques and move beyond Impressionism.


SHOW NOTES

“The Boating Party” https://www.nga.gov/Collection/art-object-page.46569.html#overview

For information on Mary Cassatt, visit  NGA Mary Cassatt online feature  and click on “Mary Cassatt – Selected Paintings” or “Mary Cassatt – Selected Prints”

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo goo.gl/daee6S

“The Boating Party” theme is “Laideronnette, imperatrice des pagodes” by Ravel, performed by Luis Sarro https://musopen.org/music/539/maurice-ravel/ma-mere-loye/

02 Young Girl Reading – Fragonard

Jean-Honoré Fragonard (French, 1732 – 1806 ), Young Girl Reading, c. 1770, oil on canvas, Gift of Mrs. Mellon Bruce in memory of her father, Andrew W. Mellon

Today, I take a long look at Jean Honoré Fragonard’s “Young Girl Reading,” part of his famous series of “Fantasy Figures.” Or is she?

Join me while we find out and explore the mystery of the woman lurking underneath.


SHOW NOTES

“Young Girl Reading: A Hidden Portrait Revealed” https://www.nga.gov/features/fantasy-figures-identified/hidden-portrait.html

“Fragonard: The Fantasy Figures” https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2017/fragonard-the-fantasy-figures.html

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo goo.gl/daee6S

“Young Girl Reading” theme is Piano Sonata no. 9 in E, Op. 14 no. 1 – I. Allegro by Paul Pitman