William Blake's illustrations for Dante's "Divine Comedy" : a study of the engravings, pencil sketches and watercolors

William Blake's series of illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy was his last major project and a summation of his religious and artistic beliefs. Blake intended to engrave this series, but it was unfinished at his death. The series includes seven partially complete engravings and 102 works in various stages of completion--some of the most beautiful pictures of his career. These pictures are not simple illustrations, but constitute a thorough reinterpretation and--in Blake's view--correction of Dante's poem. This book compares the two men's theological and artistic views and analyzes in detail the meaning of Blake's illustrations, for the first time introducing their theological and aesthetic exuberance to a modern audience. Cover......Page 1 Table of Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 1. Why Did Blake Illustrate The Divine Comedy?......Page 10 2. Views of Blake’s Dante, Past and Present......Page 20 3. The Comedy Reaches England......Page 26 4. The Making of Blake’s Illustrations......Page 32 5. Marginal Note to Boyd......Page 36 6. Remarks on the Illustration to Hell, Canto 4......Page 57 7. “He could never have Builded Dantes Hell”......Page 87 8. States, Not People......Page 95 Part IV: The Illustrations......Page 138 10. Purgatory......Page 233 11. Heaven......Page 261 Conclusion......Page 282 Chapter Notes......Page 284 References......Page 292 Index......Page 296 William Blake's series of engraved illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy were his last major project and a summation of his religious and artistic beliefs. Unfinished at his death, the series includes seven engravings and 102 unique works in various stages of completion--some of the most beautiful pictures of his career. These pictures are not simple illustrations, but constitute a thorough reinterpretation and--in Blake's view--correction of Dante's poem. This book compares the two men's theological and artistic views and analyzes in detail the meaning of Blake's illustrations, for the firs "William Blake's series of engraved illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy were his last major project and a summation of his religious and artistic beliefs. The series includes seven engravings and 102 unique works in various stages of completion. This book compares the two men's theological and artistic views and analyzes in detail the meaning of these works"-- Provided by publisher William Blake's series of engraved illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy were his last major project and a summation of his religious and artistic beliefs. These pictures are not simple illustrations. In fact the artist used them to reinterpret and correct Dante's poem. This book compares the two men's theological and artistic views and analyses in detail the meaning of these works.