The Circle of the Thieves; Buoso Donati Attacked by the Serpent

1827, printed 1968

William Blake (artist); Harry Hoehn (printer)

Associated Names
William Blake

Artist, British, 1757 - 1827

Harry Hoehn

Printer, American, 1918 - 1974

The image shows four figures standing within an abstract environment. The first figure on the left is holding their hands up and wearing a robe. The second figure behind the first wears similar attire. The third and fourth figures, nude males with muscular bodies, appear to be reacting to something in the scene. The setting includes stylized clouds and a landscape with flame-like or pointed formations. A serpentine creature emerges between the third and fourth figures. The background is highly stylized with swirling patterns and jagged lines.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving [restrike]

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 38.6 × 45.9 cm (15 3/16 × 18 1/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1980.45.177

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Bindman 1978, no. 651, State (restrike)

  • Series Title

    Dante's "Divine Comedy": pl.5 ("Inferno," canto XXV)

Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

1978

  • Bindman, David. The Complete Graphic Works of William Blake. London: Thames and Hudson, 1978.

Wikidata ID

Q65578947

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