The Prodigal Son (sculpture) facts for kids

The Prodigal Son is a famous sculpture created by the French artist Auguste Rodin. It shows a young man kneeling, with his arms stretched out, looking up. The sculpture captures a moment of deep emotion, like sadness or regret.

You can find different versions of this sculpture in several museums around the world. These include:

• Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England: A bronze version made around 1885–1887.
• Musée Rodin, Paris, France: A bronze version from 1905.
• San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park, California, USA: Another bronze version from 1905.
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California, USA: A bronze version from 1967.

Who Was Auguste Rodin?

Auguste Rodin (born 1840, died 1917) was a very important French sculptor. He is often called the "father of modern sculpture." Rodin changed how people thought about sculpture. He focused on showing strong emotions and movement in his artworks.

Before Rodin, sculptures often looked very smooth and perfect. Rodin, however, liked to show the rough textures of clay and bronze. He believed this made his sculptures feel more alive and real. Some of his most famous works include The Thinker and The Kiss.

The Story Behind the Name

The sculpture is named after a well-known story from the Bible. It's called the "Parable of the Prodigal Son." A parable is a simple story used to teach a moral or spiritual lesson.

In this story, a young son asks his father for his share of the family's money early. He then leaves home and wastes all his money on a wild lifestyle. When he has nothing left, he becomes very poor and hungry. He decides to return home, hoping his father will take him back, even as a servant.

When the son comes back, his father sees him from a distance. Instead of being angry, the father runs to him, hugs him, and celebrates his return. The story teaches about forgiveness, repentance, and unconditional love.

What Does the Sculpture Look Like?

Rodin's The Prodigal Son shows the moment of the son's deep regret and plea for forgiveness. The figure is kneeling, almost collapsing, with his body twisted. His arms are thrown upwards and outwards, as if he is crying out or begging.

The sculpture's pose is very dramatic. It shows the son's despair and hope at the same time. Rodin was very good at showing human feelings through the body's posture and movement. The rough surface of the bronze helps to show the raw emotion of the moment.

Where Can You See The Prodigal Son?

You can find different versions of The Prodigal Son in several art museums. Each version is made of bronze, but they might have slight differences or be cast at different times. Seeing the sculpture in person allows you to appreciate its size and the details of Rodin's work.

The museums that own versions of this sculpture are:

• The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, UK.
• The Musée Rodin in Paris, France, which is dedicated to Rodin's work.
• The San Diego Museum of Art in California, USA.
• The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in California, USA.

These museums help preserve Rodin's art for people to enjoy and learn from for many years.

Images for kids

• Auguste Rodin by Nadar.jpg

  Auguste Rodin, the famous French sculptor.

See also

In Spanish: El hijo pródigo (Auguste Rodin) para niños