Henryk Hipolitovich Siemiradzki, a Russian painter of Polish origin, achieved tremendous success as one of the most talented academic artists in the second half of the 19th century. He studied at first in Kharkov and then at the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. During his state-funded trip to Europe, he improved his skills in Munich and Florence. Later, he spent most of his artistic life in Rome. He created works on historical and biblical themes and achieved great popularity both in Russia and Europe. Henryk Siemiradzki received numerous awards and was elected a full member of several academies, including those in St. Petersburg, Berlin, Stockholm, Turin, and Paris. Siemiradzki became a common noun among artists of the Russian democratic movement.

In the middle and second half of the 19th century, mythology-inspired chamber paintings were very popular in the national art schools of many countries. In this sphere, Henryk Siemiradzki was also one of the most prominent figures. The study “The Prodigal Son” from the museum collection demonstrated his high professional skills, elaborate drawing, and well-thought-out multi-figure composition, with each character’s place, gestures, and poses aptly defined and justified, as those of a good actor. The biblical story provided ample opportunity for creating a deeply psychological work that could convey complex human relationships and emotions. However, Henryk Siemiradzki never strove for a philosophical understanding of the subject, settling for an external, melodramatic interpretation of the famous parable. Academic principles are particularly evident in this painting: the balanced composition, broad color palette, somewhat unconvincing characters, and an insufficient understanding and analysis of the psychology of the characters, limiting the emotional effect on the viewer.