The Whirlwind of Lovers
The Whirlwind of Lovers
The Whirlwind of Lovers
The Whirlwind of Lovers

Currently not on view

The Whirlwind of Lovers,

1827

William Blake, 1757–1827; born and died London, England
x1944-282
In the last three years of his life, the visionary poet, engraver, and painter William Blake drew more than one hundred watercolors illustrating Dante Alighieri’s epic fourteenthcentury poem the Divine Comedy. Blake had intended to produce a series of engravings based on these watercolors but managed to complete only seven plates before his death. In Canto V of the Inferno, Dante relates the tragic tale of an adulterous affair between Paolo and Francesca, shown embracing as they are about to be engulfed in a whirlwind of illicit lovers in Dante’s second circle of Hell. Both this engraving and the one hanging to the right are first state proofs, printed before texts were added below the images.

Information

Title
The Whirlwind of Lovers
Dates

1827

Maker
William Blake
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
plate: 24.3 x 33.9 cm. (9 9/16 x 13 3/8 in.) sheet: 27.8 x 35.5 cm. (10 15/16 x 14 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Frank Jewett Mather Jr.
Object Number
x1944-282
Place Made

Europe, England, London

Reference Numbers
Bindman 647-653; Russell 34
Culture
European, British
Type
engravings, prints
Materials
printing ink
Techniques
engraving (printing process)
Subject
hell, men, wind, figures (representations), women

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