Artwork
The Circle of the Lustful: Paolo and Francesca
The Circle of the Lustful: Paolo and Francesca is an ink print by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1827 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Circle of the Lustful: Paolo and Francesca is an engraving by William Blake, created in 1827. It is a restrike made before the plate was cleaned.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a scene from Dante's Inferno, showing the second circle of Hell where the lustful are trapped in a stormy vortex. The figures are entangled, clinging to each other or floating helplessly, conveying a sense of chaos and turmoil.
Technique & Style
Blake employed cross-hatching, using tiny crisscrossed lines to build up shadows and depth, creating a dramatic effect. The level of detail achieved through this technique intensifies the chaotic atmosphere of the scene.
Context
The work reflects Blake's lifelong engagement with Dante's themes and is characteristic of his symbolic and imaginative style, which would later be recognized as foundational to Romantic visual culture.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.
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