The Wise and the Foolish Virgins

The biblical parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins (Matthew 25: 1–13) is one of the classic motifs on mediæval portal jambs, as an admonishment to the faithful not to stray from the strait and narrow. A copy after Hieronymus Francken II (1578–1623) presents this parable – rarely painted in oils – in a prosperous, "haut bourgeois" setting. The five foolish virgins indulge in sensual pleasures – music, feasting, slumber. Clad in costly garments, they seek to beguile the viewer. A brothel scene painted on the back wall above their heads makes the reference clear. To their right, taking up only a third of the picture, the five wise virgins busy themselves with spinning, sewing and praying, in contemplation and preparation for Judgement Day. Above their heads, Christ leads the five wise virgins along a band of cloud into the radiant round temple of the sun god Helios, while on the other side, the five foolish virgins hurry away.
In the biblical narrative, the virgins take their lamps and go out to meet the bridegroom, who has delayed. While the wise ones have made provision, taking oil in their vessels with their lamps, the foolish, having no oil left, must go to buy more. When the bridegroom arrives, finding only the wise ones awaiting him, he leads them into the wedding room and closes the door. The foolish virgins are no longer admitted.

Translated catalogue text from:
Habersatter Thomas: Die sieben Todsünden. In: Oehring Erika, Ducke Astrid, Habersatter Thomas (Hrsg.): Allegorie. Die Sprache der Bilder. Residenzgalerie Salzburg, Salzburg 2017, S. 219-243, Hieronymus II. Francken, Kopie, Die fünf klugen und die fünf törichten Jungfrauen, S. 240, Abb. 23, S. 241
Translation: Gail Schamberger MA, Salzburg