And Grace Will Lead Me Home: Images of the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Jerry Evenrud Collection

The Jerry Evenrud collection of images of the parable of the Prodigal Son is the largest known such collection in the world. It encompasses works from 1540 to 2005. The historical span of the collection affirms the continuing resonance of the parable. The media range from etchings, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, and fabric. The collection reveals the desire of the artists to delve into the meaning of the parable and to convey that meaning to others. Some artists depict the entire narrative in a series of works, usually four to six segments. Others focus on one aspect, such as the pig pen or the return of the prodigal. The segment most frequently portrayed by a single print is the homecoming embrace by the father the scene that represents the focus of the parable and thus of faith grace and forgiveness.

Robert Brusic is Seminary Pastor Emeritus at Luther Seminary, St. Paul.