ART WIKI
The Prodigal Son, Pier Leone Ghezzi, c. 1720–30
Pier Leone Ghezzi, portraitPier Leone GhezziItalian, 1674–1755

The Prodigal Son

c. 1720–30 · Painting · 98.43 × 134.3 cm

Can I see it?

Yes, on view now

Where is “The Prodigal Son” now? Minneapolis Institute of Art, G308, Minneapolis. Yes, on view now. Checked September 29, 2026.

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Minneapolis, United States

RoomG308

Closed· opens tomorrow at 10:00 AM

On public display.

Checked
In this state since
Source
The museum
On the mapMuseum page

About the painting

As painter at the papal court, Ghezzi specialized in religious themes, decorative frescoes, landscapes, and theatrical displays. His talents in all these genres are on view in this painting of the New Testament parable of the prodigal son. The celebration of the errant son’s return home has begun. Instead of dwelling on the story’s moral of repentance and forgiveness, Ghezzi has created a festive genre scene, combining rich colors, warm tonalities, and theatrical lighting with the airy, fresh colors of the landscape and the musicians.

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Details

Accession number
71.23

In the catalog

PaintingsOilItalian paintingRococo18th centuryItaly

Sources

More by Pier Leone Ghezzi

All works
Signor Paolo Danieli, Uditore del Signor Cardinale di San Cesareo (Paolo Danieli, Auditor des Kardinals von San Cesareo, d. il Giovanni Francesco Albani), Pier Leone Ghezzi

Signor Paolo Danieli, Uditore del Signor Cardinale di San Cesareo (Paolo Danieli, Auditor des Kardinals von San Cesareo, d. il Giovanni Francesco Albani)

Kupferstich-Kabinett Dresden

Signor Abbate Giordani in atto di legger Lettere (Abt Giordani liest Briefe), Pier Leone Ghezzi

Signor Abbate Giordani in atto di legger Lettere (Abt Giordani liest Briefe)

Kupferstich-Kabinett Dresden

Sitzender Mann im Hausrock (Der Opernsänger Domenico Annibali), Pier Leone Ghezzi

Sitzender Mann im Hausrock (Der Opernsänger Domenico Annibali)

Kupferstich-Kabinett Dresden

Padre Cordara, Istoriografo della Compagnia di Gesù col Compagno (Pater Giulio Cesare Cordara, Historiograph der Jesuiten, mit einem Gefährten), Pier Leone Ghezzi

Padre Cordara, Istoriografo della Compagnia di Gesù col Compagno (Pater Giulio Cesare Cordara, Historiograph der Jesuiten, mit einem Gefährten)

Kupferstich-Kabinett Dresden

Signor Duca Bonelli (Herzog Bonelli), Pier Leone Ghezzi

Signor Duca Bonelli (Herzog Bonelli)

Kupferstich-Kabinett Dresden

Initiale G (der heilige Petrus schlägt Malchus ein Ohr ab), aus: Clementis undecimi pontificis maximi Homiliae, Rom: Salvioni 1722, S. 1, Pier Leone Ghezzi

Initiale G (der heilige Petrus schlägt Malchus ein Ohr ab), aus: Clementis undecimi pontificis maximi Homiliae, Rom: Salvioni 1722, S. 1

Kupferstich-Kabinett Dresden

Frà Atanasio dalla Fara Cercante Cappuccino (Der Kapuziner-Bettelmönch Atanasio dalla Fara), Pier Leone Ghezzi

Frà Atanasio dalla Fara Cercante Cappuccino (Der Kapuziner-Bettelmönch Atanasio dalla Fara)

Kupferstich-Kabinett Dresden

Straßenhändler mit umgehängtem Korb, Pier Leone Ghezzi

Straßenhändler mit umgehängtem Korb

Kupferstich-Kabinett Dresden

In the same room · G308, Minneapolis Institute of Art

Museum page
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Portrait of Dom Pascal Le Tonnelier, Jacques Dumont, called le Romain, 1733

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