The Circle of the Traitors; Dante's Foot Striking Bocca degli Abbate

Executed with thick, layered lines, the engraving creates a stark chiaroscuro effect that models light and shadow across the rocky shore and turbulent sky. Blake’s characteristic use of bold contouring imparts a sense of movement and intensity, while the restrained palette of black ink emphasizes the bleak atmosphere of the infernal setting.

The print is a restrike, meaning it was produced after Blake’s original plate had been re‑engraved, a common practice in the early nineteenth century to meet demand for his works. Blake, who spent most of his career in London with a brief residency in Felpham, often revisited literary subjects, and this piece reflects his ongoing engagement with Dante’s text.

Blake’s fascination with literary and mythological sources placed him within a broader Romantic interest in re‑interpreting classic texts. By rendering a scene from *Inferno*, he aligned his symbolic visual language with the moral and spiritual concerns that permeated his poetry and paintings, linking personal imagination to established narratives.

Although not among Blake’s most frequently reproduced images, the engraving illustrates his ability to translate complex literary episodes into powerful visual statements. It continues to be studied for its synthesis of poetic content and graphic technique, offering insight into Blake’s interdisciplinary approach to art and literature.