Francesca da Rimini

Scheffer enjoyed enormous success with sentimental and religious scenes, many of which became the subject of popular engravings. 'Francesca da Rimini' was one of his most admired works – this is the first version. George Eliot said of a version that was exhibited in England in 1854 that she 'could look at it for hours'. A subject from Dante’s 'Inferno', the painting shows Dante and his guide, the Roman poet Virgil, during their passage through Hell. They look on the tragic figures of Paolo and Francesca, condemned with the souls of the lustful to the stormy darkness of Hell’s second circle. Francesca was forced to marry the hideous Gianciotto da Rimini, but fell in love with his handsome younger brother, Paolo. In 1285 they were murdered by Gianciotto after he saw Paolo kiss Francesca while they were reading an account of the love of Sir Lancelot for Queen Guinevere.