British Galleries:
Cushions were important in English country houses. They were decorative and made the hard wooden furniture more comfortable. Both cushion covers show the first scene from the Parable of the Prodigal Son, when he leaves his family. The English version is a copy of the Flemish one and was produced about 20 years later. The main differences are in details like the less sophisticated style of the Sheldon cushion cover and its much brighter colours. [27/03/2003]