The Prodigal Son
An introduction to paintings by Kate Herbert at Main Street Community Church, Frodsham, Cheshire
- The set of four paintings
- Explanations, painting by painting
- The parable of the prodigal son in the bible
- The artist
The paintings
The story of the prodigal son is told in a sequence of four images. 
The first large blue painting needs to be read in layers. The viewer is required to look ‘through’ the work and study the pale blue figures. These show the younger son lazing in the garden whilst his elder brother works hard in the field. The larger blue figure on the right watches in despair. Parents everywhere will be able to identify with the father who wonders how he managed to produce such a lazy boy.
The next layer depicts the younger son demanding his share of the inheritance. The arrogant attitude clearly shows that he feels no shame and sees it as his right to expect his father to comply with his demands. The father graciously, though reluctantly, gives the son a bag of gold. Stormy skies and prickly bushes symbolise tragedy to come.
In the small blue painting, outline figures cavort decadently on the younger son’s inheritance. These are supposedly his friends who, once the money has gone, rapidly desert the boy leaving him penniless.
Reading across the sequence to the images on the right the small yellow ochre painting sees the prodigal son emaciated and reduced to feeding pigs. He is so hungry he would be glad to devour the husks they are eating.
Finally, the large yellow ochre painting completes the sequence. Again the images are presented in layers. A white outline figure of the boy with the pigs dominates the background. The young man, remembering the abundance in his father’s house, sinks deeper into despair. Weak with hunger he decides to return home.
The second layer shows the prodigal son full of remorse for the trouble he has caused. In contrast to the first painting the arrogance has gone and he hangs his head in shame. But the father is delighted to see his son and runs to meet him with arms stretched wide.
The elder son is jealous when his father orders the feasting to begin.
Joy and happiness is symbolized in the third layer by the golden sky. Golden vine leaves indicate peace and love.
Luke 15:11-32 (Listen)
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” (ESV)
The artist
Kate Herbert is the maiden name of Kate Cowell who was born in Salford in 1929. In her early school years girls were not allowed to take art classes but, during the war years, Kate’s talent was noticed and encouraged.
Awarded a scholarship at the age of 12 to Salford School of Art, Kate flourished and won several awards. Notably she met and received positive encouragement from none other than L. S. Lowry.
Her talents having come to notice, Kate was awarded a bursary and enabled to stay at school until she was 18 and then extend her studies to age 21, something unheard of for a girl from Salford.
At 21, Kate was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts whilst exhibiting alongside Lowry in Manchester. Her career continued with a spell as a sketch artist on the Manchester Evening News. Now a mother of seven children, Kate continued to sketch and paint on family holidays, during her time as a primary school teacher and whilst teaching childcare.
Since retiring in 1995, Kate has continued to exhibit and between 2000 and 2002 toured Churches and Cathedrals with her exhibitions.
Kate uses her artistic gift to share her deep Christian faith and conviction that the God who is portrayed by the father in the paintings longs for all men and women to return to him in faith and trust.
Want to know more?
If you would like to know more about the God pictured by the father in this amazing story or if you identify with the son who had gone away from the father‘s home then there are people from ‘Wellspring’ at the coffee morning at Main Street Community Church coffee morning on Thursday who would be willing to listen and talk to you. Or there are courses of study available through Main Street Community Church to teach more about Christian faith.
