- 112 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
About this book
Dante's Divine Comedy captivated medieval readers, and each successive era remains spellbound by its sublime portraits of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. In the early 19th century, one of England's great epic poets paid tribute to the Italian master's work. Gifted at both poetry and painting, William Blake transformed more than a hundred of Dante's visions into sketches, engravings, and brilliant watercolors. This collection features all of his distinctive interpretations of Dante's immortal trilogy.
Although Blake labored in poverty and obscurity all his life, he is recognized today as one of the preeminent artists and poets of the English-speaking world. An 1825 commission from patron John Linnell enabled him to focus on illustrating Dante's tales — the type of visionary work to which his talents were ideally suited. The artist spent the last three years of his life creating these images, which range from completely finished pieces to rough sketches. Blake's highly original approach offers not only an excellent introduction to Dante's allegorical tales, but also a new and fresh perspective for those already familiar with the Divine Comedy.
Although Blake labored in poverty and obscurity all his life, he is recognized today as one of the preeminent artists and poets of the English-speaking world. An 1825 commission from patron John Linnell enabled him to focus on illustrating Dante's tales — the type of visionary work to which his talents were ideally suited. The artist spent the last three years of his life creating these images, which range from completely finished pieces to rough sketches. Blake's highly original approach offers not only an excellent introduction to Dante's allegorical tales, but also a new and fresh perspective for those already familiar with the Divine Comedy.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription.
At the moment all of our mobile-responsive ePub books are available to download via the app. Most of our PDFs are also available to download and we're working on making the final remaining ones downloadable now. Learn more here.
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1 million books across 1000+ topics, we’ve got you covered! Learn more here.
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more here.
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS or Android devices to read anytime, anywhere — even offline. Perfect for commutes or when you’re on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Yes, you can access William Blake's Divine Comedy Illustrations by William Blake in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Art & History of Medieval Art. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Topic
ArtSubtopic
History of Medieval ArtThe Plates
PLATE 1
After entering the dark wood, Dante is pursued by a panther, a lion, and a she-wolf. They represent his vices: pleasure, pride, and avarice.
[Inferno, Canto 1, lines 1-90]
PLATE 2
Dante will be tested by God as he passes through Hell. The three beasts lurk below.
[Inferno, Canto 2, lines 59-69]
PLATE 3
Virgil, at the request of Beatrice, will assist Dante in his quest for divine wisdom.
[Inferno, Canto 2, lines 139-141]
PLATE 4
As he enters the gate of Hell, Dante reads
the inscription: “All hope abandon,
ye who enter here.”
[Inferno, Canto 3, lines 1-10]
PLATE 5
Dante and Virgil join the souls who suffered from apathy in life. Charon’s boat will take them across the Acheron.
[Inferno, Canto 3, lines 32-40]
PLATE 6
Charon warns his passengers of the misery that awaits them.
[Inferno, Canto 3, lines 76—84]
PLATE 7
Homer, symbol of classical culture, wields his sword.
[Inferno, Canto 4, lines 83-88]
PLATE 8
Dante and Virgil view the ancient poets Homer, Horace, Ovid, and Lucan, whose paganism denies them entrance to Heaven.
[Inferno, Canto 4, lines 89-95]
PLATE 9
Dante and Virgil encounter the vengeful judge Minos in the second circle of Hell.
[Inferno, Canto 5, lines 4-24]
PLATE 10
Dante has fainted upon hearing Francesca da Rimini tell of her passionate encounter with Paolo. The lustful are condemned to be forever caught up by winds.
[Inferno, Canto 5, lines 37-138]
PLATE 11
The gluttons, watched by the three-headed Cerberus, are subjected to foul weather in the third circle.
[Inferno, Canto 6, lines 12-35]
PLATE 12
The monstrous Cerberus pulls tormented souls from th...
Table of contents
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Table of Contents
- Publisher’s Note
- The Plates