The Iconography of the Parable of the Prodigal Son in a Byzantine Manuscript Illustration from 11th Century

Abstract

Cod. gr. 74 in Bibl. Nat. Paris is a Gospel book, illustrated in a monastery at Constantinople in the middle of 11th century. The illustrations include the earliest iconographical representation of the parable of the Prodigal Son in the Gospel of St. Luke, and are often cited as a typical example of so-called narrative cycle (e. g., by K. Weitzmann and H. Buchthal). On the other hand, they reflect the dogmatic and liturgical influence of the Eastern Church, most strikingly, for example, in the scene which represents the repentance (μετανοια) of the son. The origin may be Syro-Palestinian.