Artwork
The Circle of the Traitors; Dante's Foot Striking Bocca degli Abbate
The Circle of the Traitors; Dante's Foot Striking Bocca degli Abbate 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 Traitors; Dante's Foot Striking Bocca degli Abbate is a 1827 engraving by William Blake, a prominent English Romantic artist, poet, and printmaker. This work is characteristic of his later graphic output.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a punitive scene from the ninth circle of Hell, as described in Dante's *Inferno*. It captures a moment of retribution, highlighting the dramatic confrontation between Dante and Bocca degli Abbate, with the poet's foot striking the traitor.
Technique & Style
Blake employed fine lines and nuanced shading to achieve depth in the composition. The interplay of light and dark tones amplifies the dramatic tension, characteristic of his expressive and detailed printmaking style.
History & Provenance
Created in 1827, this engraving is part of Blake's later body of graphic work, produced primarily during his time in London. The current location and full provenance of the piece are not specified in the provided sources.
Context
This work reflects Blake's interest in illustrating literary classics, particularly Dante's *Inferno*. It situates itself within the broader context of Romantic-era artistic interpretations of canonical texts.
Legacy
As part of Blake's oeuvre, *The Circle of the Traitors* contributes to his legacy as a central figure in Romantic visual art and literature, influencing subsequent generations of artists and illustrators.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.
The Circle of the Traitors; Dante's Foot Striking Bocca degli Abbate
The Circle of the Traitors; Dante's Foot Striking Bocca degli Abbate
The Circle of the Traitors; Dante's Foot Striking Bocca degli Abbate
The Circle of the Traitors; Dante's Foot Striking Bocca degli Abbate
The Circle of the Traitors: Dante's Foot Strriking Bocca degli Abbate, from Dante's Inferno, Canto XXXII Illustration to Dante's The Divine Comedy
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