The Prodigal Son Squanders his Fortune with Prostitutes

Sebastiaen Vrancx was a Flemish painter and draughtsman who was born in 1573 in Antwerp, Belgium. He was trained by his father, the painter Jan Vrancx, and later studied under Adam van Noort and Peter Paul Rubens. Vrancx was best known for his landscapes, battle scenes and genre paintings. His landscapes were often inspired by the countryside around Antwerp, and he often included historical or mythological figures in his scenes. His battle scenes were highly detailed, depicting both soldiers and civilians caught up in the chaos of war. Vrancx was also known for his genre paintings depicting everyday life in Antwerp. These works often depicted farmers, merchants and other ordinary people going about their daily activities. He was particularly good at capturing the personalities of his subjects, and his paintings are full of lively, animated figures. Vrancx was a member of the Guild of St Luke in Antwerp and was highly respected by his contemporaries. He died in Antwerp in 1647.