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Dante and Virgil in Hell
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Dante and Virgil in Hell

painting by Bouguereau
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William-Adolphe Bouguereau's 1850 painting, "Dante and Virgil in Hell," is inspired by Dante Alighieri's epic poem, The Divine Comedy. The artwork depicts a scene from the eighth circle of hell, which is dedicated to Fraud.12

In the painting, two naked men are shown fighting. One, Gianni Schicchi, is depicted as having a greenish tint and is biting the throat of the other, Capocchio. Dante's guide, the Roman poet Virgil, appears horrified, while Dante himself seems to seek reassurance. A winged demon observes the scene in the background. Bouguereau's characteristic style, often featuring cherubic figures, is notably absent in this depiction of hell.1

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. Ten Depictions of Hell
  2. The Divine Comedy
  3. Inferno: Top Questions

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