Paolo and Francesca

painting by Ingres

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

The painting "Paolo and Francesca" by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres depicts the tragic love affair between Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Rimini. Francesca, married for political reasons to Gianciotto Malatesta, was discovered in an adulterous relationship with his brother, Paolo. Both lovers were subsequently murdered by Gianciotto.12

This story, first immortalized by Dante in his Inferno, has been a recurring theme in literature and art. Ingres's 1819 rendition of the scene features stiff, doll-like figures within a simplified interior, reflecting a style reminiscent of 14th-century Italian panel paintings. Ingres, a proponent of Neoclassical painting, often explored themes from literature and history, though his stylistic choices, including anatomical distortions, sometimes drew criticism.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres
Maturity
…category is the 1819 painting Paolo and Francesca. The work, which illustrates the tragic demise of two ill-fated lovers from Dante’s Inferno, features somewhat stiff, doll-like figures situated within a radically simplified, boxy interior reminiscent of those found in 14th-century Italian panel paintings. When exhibited at the Salon, such canvases…
Read More
…category is the 1819 painting Paolo and Francesca. The work, which illustrates the tragic demise of two ill-fated lovers from Dante’s Inferno, features somewhat stiff, doll-like figures situated within a radically simplified, boxy interior reminiscent of those found in 14th-century Italian panel paintings. When exhibited at the Salon, such canvases…
Read More