The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

William Blake · ca. 1799–1800
The Met, New York

William Blake painted this watercolour around 1799–1800, the years when he began a long series of Bible pictures for his patron Thomas Butts. He returned to the parable several times later.

The five wise young women stand in a calm, upright row with their lamps on chains, while the five foolish ones kneel and plead in the dark. Above, a figure flies across the night blowing a trumpet. The washes are soft greys with touches of blue.

From the text

Ten virgins who took their lamps (Matthew 25:1)

“Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out” (Matthew 25:8)

“go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves” (Matthew 25:9)

The artist’s own

The midnight cry as a trumpeting figure in the sky (Matthew 25:6)

The wise in a straight row, the foolish in a tangle of gestures

Details

Pointing the way

The first of the wise points the others off to buy oil.

Lamps on chains

The wise hold small hanging lamps, still burning.

Pleading

One of the foolish kneels in blue and stretches out her arm.

The trumpet

A winged figure flies across the sky blowing a long trumpet.

William Blake, British, 1757–1827. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Rogers Fund, 1914; acc. 14.81.2) · Watercolor, pen and black ink, brush and wash, over graphite · Public Domain — The Met Open Access (CC0). The Met Collection API record: "isPublicDomain": true; The Met marks such works on its website "with the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) icon".

The verses

Matt 25:1–13“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.