Did you know William Blake taught himself Italian specifically to read Dante's Divine Comedy, then sketched over one hundred illustrations for it from his deathbed?
This stunning watercolor from 1825 brings Canto V of the Inferno to life. It depicts the tragic lovers Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta, swept up in an eternal whirlwind as punishment for their forbidden passion. While Dante lies fainted from compassion on the banks, Blake offers a twist on the classic tale.
Instead of focusing purely on their punishment, the visionary English artist painted the lovers reunited in a bright, upward embrace. Blake was challenging the original moral condemnation, suggesting instead that pure love ultimately brings redemption. He worked feverishly on this se...