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Dante and Virgil Meeting the Shades of Francesca da Rimini and Paolo
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Based on The Divine Comedy, Dante's epic poem of the 1300s, this painting depicts Dante and the ancient Roman poet Virgil encountering the souls of Paolo and Francesca on a visit to Hell. Although in love with Paolo, Francesca was forced to marry his deformed brother for political reasons. When the jilted husband discovered the lovers embracing, he murdered them, apparently consigning them to Hell due to their adulterous affair.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineDante and Virgil Meeting the Shades of Francesca da Rimini and Paolo, 1851. Ary Scheffer (Dutch, 1795–1858). Oil on fabric; framed: 45.5 x 53 x 7.5 cm (17 15/16 x 20 7/8 x 2 15/16 in.); unframed: 24.7 x 33.2 cm (9 3/4 x 13 1/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund, 1980.40
