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Francesca da Rimini
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Watercolor by William Blake showing Dante and Virgil meeting Francesca da Rimini and Paolo in the Circle of the Lustful, with swirling figures swept by wind and a glowing figure above. Auguste Rodin: The Kiss
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Watercolor by William Blake showing Dante and Virgil meeting Francesca da Rimini and Paolo in the Circle of the Lustful, with swirling figures swept by wind and a glowing figure above.
William Blake: The Circle of the Lustful: Paolo and Francesca The Circle of the Lustful: Paolo and Francesca, watercolor illustration by William Blake, 1824–27. The watercolor depicts Dante (lying on the ground) and Virgil (standing) as they meet the adulterous lovers Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta in Canto 5 of the Inferno.

Francesca da Rimini

Italian noble
Also known as: Francesca da Polenta
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History

Francesca da Rimini (died 1283/84, Rimini, Romagna [Italy]) was an Italian noble and the daughter of Guido da Polenta, lord of Ravenna. Her tragic love affair with Paolo Malatesta is renowned in literature and art. Married to Gianciotto Malatesta (called “the Lame”) for reasons of state, she was murdered by him when he discovered her in an adulterous affair with his brother Paolo (called “the Fair”), whom he also killed. Italian poet Dante was the...

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