THE "PRODIGAL SON" (at the J. Ottolenghi Nursing Home Foundation)

To admire the Prodigal Son, you must enter through the large wooden gate until you reach the inside of the Nursing Home garden: there, the artwork will appear in all its grandeur.

You should know that the sculptural group of the Prodigal Son was exhibited to the public for the first time at the Permanente in Milan in 1929 and then at the Quadriennale in Rome in 1931, where it was purchased by Arturo Ottolenghi and his wife Herta Von Wedekind. Since then, it has found its place in the courtyard of the Foundation's building, almost summarizing, in that embrace between father and son, the spirit of solidarity of the nursing home, dedicated to Jona Ottolenghi, a philanthropist and member of one of Acqui Terme's most important Jewish families.

The scene depicted by this masterpiece is inspired by the parable of the Prodigal Son and depicts the conclusion of the story, namely the father's forgiveness towards the repentant younger son for his squandering conduct.

If you stand in front of the artwork, you can admire the figure of the young son, who presents a bare and emaciated back and advances towards the father, embracing him and seeking his forgiveness. The Merciful Father, dressed in a wide cloak draped over his shoulders, remains motionless, with his feet firmly planted on the ground, and welcomes his son with a loving and protective embrace.

The intertwining of the arms, guided by the hands, of the two protagonists emphasizes the emotional aspect of the touching and comforting encounter, conveying the idea of a suspended and timeless world.

It is true that this sculpture fits into the period of iconographic representations of Gospel parables of the time, but Martini shapes the work because he feels the intimate need to find reconciliation with the father who had never appreciated him. In the Prodigal Son, the plasticity and value of form emerge to perceive a profound sincerity. Here is the key to understanding why it could be understood as the most important work of Arturo Martini's life.