Oil/copper, 69,5 x 86,5 cm, lo. ri. sign. Peeter van Bredael, rest. - The biblical parable of the prodigal son tells how a young man squandered his inheritance before returning to his father impoverished and remorseful. In this depiction, Bredael shows him still at the height of his pleasure. - Provenance: Dorotheum, Vienna, 24.04.2007; Galerie Friederike Pallamar, Vienna, 22.11.2007; since then private collection Hamburg. - Flemish landscape, figure and history painter, founder of an artist's dynasty. B. learned his profession in the studio of David Rykaert III 1640-44. He worked in Spain for some time and travelled the Netherlands. In 1650 he became master of the St. Luke's guild in Antwerp, in 1689 he was made head of the local academy. Besides battle pieces he mainly painted rural markets in ancient ruins. Mus.: Antwerpen, Den Haag (Mauritshuis), Bruges, Heidelberg, Montevideo a. others. Lit.: AKL, Thieme-Becker, Bernt.