The Foolish Virgins [reverse]

1947

Henry Kreis (designer), Medallic Art Company (manufacturer)

Associated Names
Henry Kreis

Designer, American, born Germany, 1899 - 1963

Medallic Art Company

Manufacturer, American, est. 1910 - closed 2016

The sculpture depicts five female figures in a relief composition. They are positioned on a raised platform, dressed elegantly. The bronze medal features low relief carving, creating a three-dimensional effect. Below the figures is an inscription reading "THE FOOLISH VIRGINS" and a verse that seems to be from a Tennyson poem.
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Artwork overview

Associated Artworks

The image shows a round bronze medal with a relief of a woman wearing a hood facing left. She has long hair depicted with fine lines and a smooth face. On the right side, there are five smaller standing figures in the background, all wearing long garments. The medal is bronze throughout and has the inscription "THE WISE VIRGINS" on the left side.

The Wise Virgins [obverse]

Henry Kreis, Medallic Art Company

1947

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Gift 1947 to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, through subscription to the Society of Medalists (Thirty-Sixth Issue) ; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

lower center: © HENRY KREIS; across lower half of field: THE FOOLISH VIRGINS. / "NO LIGHT HAD WE, FOR THAT WE DO REPENT, / AND LEARNING THIS THE BRIDEGROOM WILL RELENT. / TO LATE, TOO LATE, YE CANNOT ENTER NOW." / NO LIGHT, SO LATE, AND DARK AND CHILL THE NIGHT. / O LET US IN, THAT WE MAY FIND THE LIGHT. / TOO LATE,TOO LATE,YE CANNOT ENTER NOW." / TENNYSON

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