The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; the Devils Tormenting Ciampolo

The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; the Devils Tormenting Ciampolo by William Blake is a significant technical material work created in 1827. This object, classified within the National Gallery of Art collection, is an engraved copper plate. As the matrix used for producing final prints, it demonstrates Blake’s mastery of the demanding relief and intaglio processes that characterize British graphic art of the period.

The subject matter is immediately identified by the title: the torment of Ciampolo, a figure historically associated with political corruption and deceit. Blake draws upon highly dramatic narrative traditions, likely adapting scenes from literary sources such as Dante’s Inferno, to visualize themes of divine retribution and earthly moral decay. Executed late in the artist's career, during the 1826 to 1850 period, the piece exhibits the intense, visionary quality that distinguishes Blake’s mature style.

Blake’s dedication to producing his own prints allowed him complete control over the creative process, from the initial concept to the physical preparation of the engraved copper plate. The dense cross-hatching and defined contours visible on this plate are characteristic of the technical rigor required for successful printmaking in the early nineteenth century. Although cataloged as a technical material rather than a finished artwork, this object provides crucial insight into the preparation and graphic methods employed by Blake. The work resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where records of this type of historic prints and plates are often made available through public domain initiatives.