The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins by William Blake is a significant drawing executed between 1794 and 1805. The piece utilizes watercolor, pen and black ink, and brush and wash applied meticulously over initial graphite studies. This technical combination allowed Blake to achieve intense spiritual drama combined with the precise linearity characteristic of his visionary work.

The subject directly illustrates the allegory found in the Gospel of Matthew (25:1-13), contrasting five wise virgins prepared for the bridegroom’s arrival with five foolish virgins whose lamps have run out of oil. Blake dramatically stages the scene, highlighting the moment of separation and judgment. The representation of these women underscores the prevailing themes of spiritual readiness and accountability central to Blake’s worldview and his enduring interest in religious illustration.

This artwork belongs to a specific period of Blake’s career focused heavily on synthesizing biblical narrative with his unique symbolic language, often using the classification of drawing to explore theological concepts with freedom. The drawing is an exceptional example of his profound skill as an illustrator, blending Neoclassical attention to form with intense Romantic sensibility.

As a foundational piece of visionary art from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the original of The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and cultural importance, high-resolution photographic prints of this masterwork are now widely available through the public domain, allowing global accessibility to Blake's powerful narrative art.