Return of the prodigal son. Engraving by Abraham Bosse, 1633.

This print is one in a series telling the story of the prodigal son. This is the last print, in which the fatted calf is prepared in the back right of the representation and the inscription ends on the note that having resumed his responsibilites, the son becomes lord of the poor, which he had recently been

The biblical parable is given a contemporary setting, where the prodigal son is represented as a seventeenth century French hero. His home is sumptuous, and great care has been taken in the rest of the family entourage, dressed in the latest fashions

[Paris] ([Ches le Blond pres la porte de Paris devant les Boucheries au Soleil d'or]) : Le Blond, [1635]

1 print : engraving ; image 20.4 x 28.7 cm

A Bosse in.<venit> et fe.<cit>. le Blond avec privilege du Roy. A son retour, ce fils, que la misere accable...

Nicole Villa, Le XVII siecle vu par Abraham Bosse, graveur du Roy, Paris 1967, page 25

Wellcome Collection 38136i

Abraham Bosse wrote a treatise on printing techiques in 1642, Tracité des manières de graver en taille-douce sur l'airin (Paris 1645) where he gave a detailed account of how a roller press was made and discussed the use of the échoppe. He became an honorary royal academician in 1651