|
Date: |
|
Description: | Scene from Dante's Inferno depicting Paolo and Francesca. Semi-naked Francesca, to the left, reclines in the arms of Paolo, to the right, who holds her in a protective embrace. He is naked but for grey robes swathed about his legs and over his head and shoulders. She rests her head on his right shoulder and they hold hands. They appear to be caught in a strong wind, which blows the drapery and her long blond hair around them. The background is dark and rust-coloured, with heavy grey clouds. Two small figures in drapery appear suspended in the bottom right corner, the larger of which is the figure of Dante. He is in profile to the right, sobbing with his head in his hands. The other small figure, presumably Virgil, is drifting off, facing away from the viewer.
A Watts-style frame of gilt wood with raised floral moulding at the inner and outer edges.
Technique: painting
medium: oil paint
Paolo and Francesca by George F. Watts R.A., O.M., 1870, (1907.7). | Source: | Manchester City Galleries | Identifier: | mcag.emu.ecatalogue.430 | Go to resource |
|
|