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Dante and Virgil Meeting the Shades of Francesca da Rimini and Paolo
Ary Scheffer1851
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
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.
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Details
- Title: Dante and Virgil Meeting the Shades of Francesca da Rimini and Paolo
- Creator: Ary Scheffer (Dutch, 1795-1858)
- Date Created: 1851
- Physical Dimensions: 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.)
- Provenance: 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.
- Type: Painting
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1980.40
- Medium: oil on fabric
- Inscriptions: Signed lower left corner in red paint: Ary Scheffer. / 1851
- Department: Modern European Painting and Sculpture
- Culture: Netherlands, 19th century
- Credit Line: Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund
- Collection: Mod Euro - Painting 1800-1960
- Accession Number: 1980.40
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