Circle of Theives: Agnello Brunelleschi Attacked By a Six-Footed Serpent

"Circle of Theives: Agnello Brunelleschi Attacked By a Six-Footed Serpent" by William Blake is a striking engraving executed between 1820 and 1832, representing the artist's late mastery of printmaking techniques. This work belongs to Blake’s renowned series illustrating scenes from Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, specifically Canto XXV, which details the hideous fate of the thieves in the seventh circle of hell who are permanently fused with serpents.

The composition captures a moment of terrifying transformation. The central figure, Agnello Brunelleschi, is depicted as a powerful male nude engaged in a desperate struggle. He is overwhelmed by a massive six-footed serpent that coils around his body, symbolizing the fusion of human and bestial nature brought about by their transgression. Blake utilizes the intense drama of the scene, integrating other figures, including women and female nudes, who appear to be either witnesses to the punishment or participants in the cycle of sin described in the Canto. The linear quality and sharp contrasts achieved through the engraving medium heighten the psychological tension and claustrophobic atmosphere.

This significant print underscores Blake’s unique vision, combining deep literary understanding with a highly personalized mythology of the body and spiritual transformation. The work highlights his enduring interest in classical forms reinterpreted through a Romantic lens. Today, original prints of this dramatic illustration are held within the comprehensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and profound cultural importance, this image is often found available through public domain resources, allowing broad access to Blake's complex and visionary art.