We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: E.4914-1968
Find out about our images

Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case EE, Shelf 60

The Circle of the Lustful: Francesca da Rimini

Print
1826-1827 (designed), 1968 (printed)
Artist/Maker

Engraving and etching titled 'The Circle of the Lustful: Francesca da Rimini.', from Blake's illustrations of Dante's 'Divina Comedia'. Signed in pencil and inscribed 'A restrike from the copperplate in my collection. Lessing J. Rosenwald August 1968.' and signed and dated by the printer 'hoehn imp.68'.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleThe Circle of the Lustful: Francesca da Rimini (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Etching and engraving
Brief description
'The Circle of the Lustful: Francesca da Rimini'. From illustrations to Dante's 'Divina Comedia' by William Blake (1757-1827), dated 1826-27. This plate is lettered in reverse 'The Whirlwind of Lovers from Dante's Inferno Canto V' [almost obliterated]. It is one of a set of seven printed from the original etched and engraved copperplates in the donor's possession, as part of a new edition of 25, and is signed and dated by the printer 'hoehn imp. 68'.
Physical description
Engraving and etching titled 'The Circle of the Lustful: Francesca da Rimini.', from Blake's illustrations of Dante's 'Divina Comedia'. Signed in pencil and inscribed 'A restrike from the copperplate in my collection. Lessing J. Rosenwald August 1968.' and signed and dated by the printer 'hoehn imp.68'.
Dimensions
  • Height: 28cm
  • Width: 35.2cm
Dimensions taken from Victoria & Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1968. London: HMSO, 1969.
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'A restrike from the copperplate in my collection. Lessing J. Rosenwald August 1968.' (Each signed by the donor in pencil and inscribed)
  • 'hoehn imp. 68.' (Each signed and dated by the printer)
  • '18/25' (Numbered)
Credit line
Given by Mr. Lessing J. Rosenwald
Object history
These plates to the ‘Inferno’ are after seven of the 102 drawings illustrating Dante’s 'Divine Comedy', commissioned by John Linnell, on which Blake was working at the time of his death, and are nearly all unfinished. Their history is also discussed in 'Blake’s illustrations to the Divine Comedy' by A.S. Roe, Princeton, 1953, where they are reproduced.
Subjects depicted
Associations
Literary referenceDante's 'Divine Comedy'
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Victoria & Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1968. London: HMSO, 1969.
Collection
Accession number
E.4914-1968

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSON