Based on a painting by the Italian artist Salvatore Rosa (1615-1673) now in the collection of the Hermitage. When The Prodigal Son was acquired by Birmingham it was thought to be by Thomas Gainborough (1727-1788), even at that time the attribution was in question, with another artist, Thomas Barker (1767-1847) being suggested. The current attribution to Gainsborough Dupont, Thomas Gainsborough's nephew and assistant, is also uncertain.