DANTE ENGRAVINGS

Birmingham Art Museum

Illustrations to Divine Comedy

Circle of the Lustful

Hell V 

38  I learned that those who undergo this torment

are damned because they sinned within the flesh,
subjecting reason to the rule of lust.

And as, in the cold season, starlings’ wings
bear them along in broad and crowded ranks
so does that blast bear on the guilty spirits:

now here, now there, now down, now up, it drives them.
There is no hope that ever comforts them—
no hope for rest and none for lesser pain.

73  My first words: “Poet, I should willingly
speak with those two who go together there
and seem so lightly carried by the wind.”

And he to me: “You’ll see when they draw closer
to us, and then you may appeal to them
by that love which impels them. They will come.”

No sooner had the wind bent them toward us
than I urged on my voice: “O battered souls
if One does not forbid it, speak with us.”

103   Love, that releases no beloved from loving,
took hold of me so strongly through his beauty
that, as you see, it has not left me yet.

Love led the two of us unto one death.
Caina waits for him who took our life."

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Above is the watercolor of the Circle of the Lustful which was one of the six items designated for the Birmingham Museum. Blake was moved to produce engravings of his illustration to the Divine Comedy while working on the 102 watercolor sketches and drawings. This same design was engraved on copper along with six other designs. In 1937 the copperplates were sold by John Linnell's descendants to Lessing J. Rosenwald who was a principle benefactor of the National Gallery in Washington DC.

In various Museums are prints from the copperplates from as early as Blake's own proofs, to 25 sets made in 1968 from the copperplates in the National Gallery.

The set shown below is from the National Gallery Victoria.

The Circle Of the Lustful, Paolo and Francesca  

The Circle of the Corrupt Officials. The Devils Tormenting Ciampolo   1826-27\

The Circle of the Corrupt Officials. The Devils Mauling Each Other   1826-27

The Circle of Thieves. Agnello dei Brunelleschi Attacked by a Six-Footed Serpent   1826-27

The Circle of Thieves. Buoso dei Donati Attacked by the Serpent   1826-27

The Circle of the Falsifiers. Dante and Virgil Covering Their Noses Because of the Stench   1826-27

The Circle of the Traitors: Dante's Foot Striking Bocca degli Abbati   1826-27

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Additional information about Blake's engravings for the Divine Comedy is available in an article by Robert Essick in "Blake: An Illuminated Quarterly." 

Read commentary about Hell Canto 5 and the Circle of the Lustful at Digital Dante provided by Columbia University.