Die Ausschweifungen des verlorenen Sohnes 

This pen drawing titled “Die Ausschweifungen des verlorenen Sohnes” (The Extravagance of the Prodigal Son) by Pietro Testa, depicts a scene from the biblical parable of the prodigal son. The drawing, housed in the Städel Museum, depicts the son, surrounded by women, reveling in his wealth, while a figure with a dog watches on. The scene, filled with figures in various states of undress, highlights the themes of sin and indulgence common to the story of the prodigal son. Testa’s fluid lines and dynamic composition convey the fleeting nature of the son’s fleeting moment of excess.