The Wise Virgins Resting Whilst Awaiting the Arrival of The Husband
ca. 1635
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 10 3/16 × 12 13/16 in. (25.8 × 32.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1926
Accession Number
26.49.9
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the intricate etching *The Wise Virgins Rest Whilst Awaiting the Arrival The Husband* (ca. 1635), French artists Abraham Bosse and Jean I Leblond a serene biblical scene from the Parable of the Ten Vir in Matthew 25. The "wise virgins," symbols of preparedness for Christ's return, lounge gracefully while awaiting the bridegroom—often interpreted as a metaphor for spiritual vigilance. Rendered on a trimmed sheet measuring 10 3/16 × 12 13/16 inches, this print captures a moment of quiet anticipation, blending religious devotion with elegant figural grace. Abraham Bosse, a master etcher renow...
About the Artist
Abraham Bosse|Jean I Leblond · 1602–1676
Abraham Bosse (1604–1676) was a French printmaker and theorist whose approximately 1,600 etchings provide an unparalleled visual record of 17th-century French life. Born to Huguenot parents in Tours, he trained in Paris under Melchior Tavernier and became a devoted follower of Jacques Callot's technical innovations. Bosse's meticulous etchings depicted subjects ranging from daily life and fashion ...