The Prodigal Son

Horta, from Belgium, sells on 6 September 2021 a "Flemish School, 18th century" "Return of the Prodigal Son", estimated at 3,000 to 5,000 Euro. 

This large work (105 by 167 cm) actually depicts the complete story of the Prodigal Son in multiple scenes (a system much more in use in the 15th and early 16th century, but completely out of fashion in the 17th and 18th century). The work may have been somewhat cut down, especially the right side seems to be incomplete. 

It is dated 1617, and I see no reason to disregard this date (although it could be the date of some original, with this being a later copy). The symbol between the 16 and the 17 may be a monogram, but I'm unable to decipher it. 

And speaking of originals, this work seems to be based on some engravings after David Vinckboons (1576-1631), which again ties in with the date on the painting. 

The story starts bottom left, with the departure of the prodigal son. 

It is unclear what the original may be for this depiction: this 1608 engraving after Vinckboons (found at the Rijksmuseum site) certainly shares some elements (like the flowing cape of the son). 

But other elements like the horse seem to come from a Nicolaes de Bruyn engraving (again via the Rijksmuseum), without an exact date (probably 1600-1630, so within the range of the painting's date). 

The story then jumps to bottom right, with the prodigal son wasting his money on booze and women. This part seems incomplete. 

It again has no clear, one-on-one counterpart in engravings I could find, but the main source of inspiration again seems to be Vinckboons (via the Rijksmuseum). 

A small detail in both works is the inn keeper adding the drinks to the tab (the proverbial "Kerfstok" in Dutch). 

Here as well a Nicolaes de Bruyn engraving may be an alternative source of inspiration (found at the Boijmans Van Beuningen site).

In the third scene (upper left), the son has spent all his money and is chased away by the women at the inn. And this image is taken directly from the same engraving by Vinckboons as in scene 2, with the woman in the window throwing beer (or emptying the chamber pot?) on him. 

The fourth scene depicts the son as a swineherd. 

This one seems based on Vinckboons as well, although the depiction is pretty generic.

And the fifth and final scene is the return home, with the embrace with his father and behind them the slaughter of the fat ox.

And that one as well is close to a Vinckboons I found at the Rijksmuseum site.

Perhaps the painting for sale is based on an unknown Vinckboons painting, or perhaps the artist tried to create a singl work incorporating all main aspects of the story from some Vinckboons' prints (and perhaps others), is hard to tell. But the result is an intriguing, original work, where I have little reason to doubt the 1617 date. It should very easily surpass the estimate.