Beschreibung:

Blake (William) Illustrations to Dante's Divine Comedy, the complete set of 7, engravings, excellent impressions on India appliqué on cream wove paper, platemarks each approx. 278 x 355 mm. (10 7/8 x 14 in), sheets each approx. 395 x 545 mm. (15 ½ x 21 ½ in), full margins, some sheets with minor toning, unframed, [John Linnell, 1838 or Linnell Family, 1892] (7) ⁂ The set of seven, comprising: (1) The Circle of the Lustful: Paolo and Francesca. Inf., canto V (2) The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; the devils tormenting Ciampolo. Inf., canto XXII (3) The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; the Devils Mauling Each Other. Inf., canto XXII (4) The Circle of the Thieves; Agnolo Brunelleschi Attacked by a Six-Footed Serpent. Inf., canto XXV (5) The Circle of the Thieves; Buoso Donati Attacked by the Serpent. Inf., canto XXV (6) The Circle of the Falsifiers;Danteand Virgil Covering their Noses because of the Stench. Inf., canto XXIX (7) The Circle of the Traitors;Dante's Foot Striking Bocca degli Abbate. Inf., canto XXXII By the autumn of 1824 WilliamBlakehad most likely already begun to work on the series commissioned by John Linnell which would eventually occupy him until his death in 1827. At the time of his deathBlakehad produced 102 drawings illustratingDante's Divine Comedy, but it wasn't until 1826 that he started to work on the large engravings after 7 of the drawings. The engravings were left unfinished at the time of his death, and stand as testament to the artist's ability to capture the atmosphere and lyrical intensity ofDante's Inferno. Literature: Bindman, David, The Complete Graphic Works of WilliamBlake, London, 1978, p. 487, nos. 647-53