The Bridegroom Cometh
Elizabeth Gibbons (1989– )
- Medium
United States
ca. 2009
Cut and pieced wood
"This is a depiction of the five wise virgins from the Savior’s parable. The five foolish virgins, represented by the five empty oil lamps on the ground, have gone to buy more oil. The ignited lamp represents the Holy Ghost illuminating the way of the wise virgins. The first maiden is about to take the bridegroom’s hand. The next three virgins eagerly await their turn to see the bridegroom. The last virgin is looking back with sorrow for all her sisters who were unwise. In this artwork, there are 766 separate pieces of wood that had to be cut and hand-sanded to construct this mural. No paints or stains were used to enhance the wood coloring. The name for this form of inlaid wood artwork is intarsia, which means 'pictures in wood.'”