The spendthrift prodigal son despairs after wasting his early inheritance and being forced to work as a swineherd: detail of a 20th century stained glass window in the Oude Kerk or Old Church at Delft, South Holland, Netherlands, depicting the Prodigal Son parable related by Jesus in Chapter 15 of the New Testament Gospel of Luke.
Delft, South Holland, Netherlands: the Prodigal Son, having wasted his early inheritance, despairs as he is forced to work as a swineherd, in this depiction of a biblical parable in a modern stained glass window lighting the city’s Oude Kerk or Old Church. The Prodigal Son is a parable of Jesus from the New Testament Gospel of Luke. Speaking to his disciples, the Pharisees and others, Jesus told of two sons, one prodigal (wasteful and extravagant) who squandered his fortune and became destitute, forcing him to take work looking after pigs. Coming to his senses, the prodigal son returned to his father, who welcomed him without hesitation and planned a celebratory feast. The second son, working in his father’s fields, angrily complained about his wasteful brother returning to such a welcome. But their father replied that they should all “ … make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” The Gothic Oude Kerk, founded in 1246, is Delft’s oldest church and is one of its best-known landmarks. A devastating fire in 1536 and a massive gunpowder explosion in 1654, known as the Dutch Thunderclap, destroyed all of the church’s medieval stained glass; most of the windows were then either bricked up or filled with plain glass. A total of 27 new stained glass windows were inserted as the church underwent years of restoration beginning in 1949. Renowned stained glass artist Joep Nicolas (1897-1972) was responsible for 25 of the colourful designs, with the final two completed after his death. They depict biblical stories and commemorate Dutch historical events and personalities.
Size: 3008px × 2000px
Location: Delft, South Holland, Netherlands.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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