The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 20, 2024

Dante and Virgil Meeting the Shades of Francesca da Rimini and Paolo

Dante and Virgil Meeting the Shades of Francesca da Rimini and Paolo

1851
(Dutch, 1795–1858)
Netherlands
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.)
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund 1980.40
Location: 219 19th Century European

Description

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.
  • Herman de Zoete sale, London, Christie's, 8-9 May 1885 (lot 96), Francesca da Rimini, small replica, 9½ x 13 in., to Agnew for 46-4-0 gns. Sold to F. Denison on 2 April 1886. Sale of the collection of Mrs. B. M. Denison, Christie's, London, 13 May 1927 (lot 113), Paolo e Francesco [sic], 9½ x 12½ in. Bought by L. Carroll. London sale, Christie's, 7 July 1930 (lot 152), Paolö e Francesco [sic], 1851, 9 x 13 in., 10 gns to Mrs. Samuels. To H. D. Samuels. London sale, Christie's, 31 October 1947 (lot 106), Paolo e Francesco [sic], 1851, 9 x 12½ in., for 4 gns to Maxwell. London sale, Christie's, 5 October 1979 (lot 110, repr.), Paolo and Francesca, s.d. 1851, for £3,200 to Hazlitt. Bought by the CMA in 1980.
  • Lee, Sherman E. “The Year in Review for 1980.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 68, no. 6 (June 1981): 163–219. Mentioned: p. 213, no. 69 www.jstor.org
    “Annual Report for 1980.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 68, no. 7 (July 1981): 223–266. Mentioned: p. 231 www.jstor.org
    Argencourt, Louise d', and Roger Diederen. Catalogue of Paintings. Pt. 4. European Paintings of the 19th Century. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1974. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 577-579, Vol. II, no. 204
  • Year in Review: 1980. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (June 24-July 19, 1981).
  • {{cite web|title=Dante and Virgil Meeting the Shades of Francesca da Rimini and Paolo|url=false|author=Ary Scheffer|year=1851|access-date=20 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1980.40