Oil on Canvas 260cmx160cm. 2020
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THE PRODIGAL SON AND HIS OLDER BROTHER
(Luke 15)
Modderman's painting shows the return of the Prodigal Son, his Merciful Father and the Self-righteous Older Son. The Father forgives the sins of his Prodigal Son and blesses him. The Older Son accuses his Younger Brother and rebukes the Father. With his left hand, the father seems to reject the Older Son. |
The Story behind the Painting
In this parable Jesus contrasts repenting sinners with self-righteous men.
Luke 15:1-2 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathered around Jesus to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers-of-the-law muttered, this man welcomes sinners and eats with them. Then Jesus told them this parable.
Luke 15:11 There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father give me my share of the estate.” So, he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
After he spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to the fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
When he came to his senses, he said, "How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!" I will set out and go back to my father. So, he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, "Father I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son." But the father said his servant, "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found." So, they begin to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the oldest son was in the field. When he learned about the feast to celebrate the return of his younger brother, he became angry and refused to participate. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, "Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fatted calf for him!" "My son," the father said, "you are always with me and everything I have is yours. But we have to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found."
Modderman's painting shows the returning and repenting younger son being accepted by the father and blessed by his right hand. The older brother accuses and rejects his younger brother and in doing so also rejects the father. The father seems to push him back with his left hand.
In this parable Jesus contrasts repenting sinners with self-righteous men.
Luke 15:1-2 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathered around Jesus to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers-of-the-law muttered, this man welcomes sinners and eats with them. Then Jesus told them this parable.
Luke 15:11 There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father give me my share of the estate.” So, he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
After he spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to the fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
When he came to his senses, he said, "How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!" I will set out and go back to my father. So, he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, "Father I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son." But the father said his servant, "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found." So, they begin to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the oldest son was in the field. When he learned about the feast to celebrate the return of his younger brother, he became angry and refused to participate. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, "Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fatted calf for him!" "My son," the father said, "you are always with me and everything I have is yours. But we have to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found."
Modderman's painting shows the returning and repenting younger son being accepted by the father and blessed by his right hand. The older brother accuses and rejects his younger brother and in doing so also rejects the father. The father seems to push him back with his left hand.