{"product_id":"antaeus-setting-down-dante-and-virgil-in-the-last-circle-of-hell-william-blake","title":"Antaeus setting down Dante and Virgil in the last circle of hell - William Blake","description":"\u003cp\u003eA dramatic illustration by William Blake from his series depicting Dante's Divine Comedy, showing the giant Antaeus lowering the poets into the inferno.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work is part of the extensive series of illustrations William Blake produced for Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. Commissioned by the painter John Linnell in 1824, the project occupied Blake until his death in 1827. The scene depicts the giant Antaeus, a figure from Greek mythology, lowering the poets Dante and Virgil into the ninth circle of hell, known as Cocytus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlake employs his characteristic style, combining precise ink outlines with fluid washes of watercolour. The composition is dominated by the colossal, muscular form of Antaeus, whose body arches across the upper portion of the frame. His skin is rendered in deep, bruised tones, contrasting with the stark, pale rock face he grips. Below, the figures of Dante and Virgil appear diminutive, emphasising the scale of the giant. The background features a dark, atmospheric void, suggesting the depths of the inferno.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlake's approach to the subject matter is highly personal. He does not merely document the text but interprets the psychological weight of the narrative. The anatomical exaggeration of Antaeus reflects Blake's interest in the expressive potential of the human form, a recurring theme in his work. The colour palette is restricted, relying on deep blues, greys, and earthy browns to convey the bleakness of the setting. This print captures the tension between the physical power of the giant and the vulnerability of the travellers. It is a representative example of Blake's late period, where his visionary style reached a high degree of clarity and emotional force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/self-portrait-ivan-aivazovsky\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eSelf-portrait - Ivan Aivazovsky — Ivan Aivazovsky\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/que-viene-el-coco-francisco-de-goya\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eQue viene el Coco - Francisco de Goya — Francisco de Goya\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"William Blake","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58843879440719,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58843990851919,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58843990884687,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58843990917455,"sku":null,"price":69.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58843990950223,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Antaeus-setting-down-Dante-and-Virgil-in-the-last-circle-of-hell_Poster_CompositorV1_1790020351422.jpg?v=1790021875","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/antaeus-setting-down-dante-and-virgil-in-the-last-circle-of-hell-william-blake","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}