Description of a Painting

While at the BYU MOA, I went to explore the exhibit on religious art. I really liked the various paintings and sculptures. Below is one that I really liked. Its realism is somethings that I really like in art.

This is my description:

This painting is a depiction of two virgins from the parable of the wise and foolish virgins found in the Bible. One of the virgins has a lite lamp and looks heavenward while the other has her lamp down at her side, the light having gone out, and looking downcast. Both virgins are young and attractive. They wear simple, yet elegant clothing. The background has classical architecture and stone masonry.

The medium is oil on canvas. The artist took great care in rendering the subjects. There is illusionary form achieved through chiaroscuro and modeling. There is an appearance of depth to the painting achieved through the use of one-point perspective. The folds in the fabric and the use of shadow give the impression of the subjects’ volume and body contours.

The painting rests on a blue wall in dim light with a spotlight to illuminate it. The frame is a golden color which works well with the colors used in the painting as well as the blue of the wall on which it hangs. The painting is among other religious art and includes references to scriptural passages and a brief explanation of the story being depicted. The painting was created in 1856. The artist is German. The story is a well-known parable from the Bible in which half of those who were waiting for a wedding party to come by had brought extra oil for their lamps while the other half ran out of oil.