The Circle of the Falsifiers: Dante and Virgil Covering their Noses because of the st

The Circle of the Falsifiers: Dante and Virgil Covering their Noses because of the st by William Blake, executed in 1827, is a profound illustration from the artist's final and most celebrated series dedicated to Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy. This potent image was created using an engraved copper plate, classifying it as a critical example of Blake’s technical material and expertise in the demanding art of printmaking. The work belongs to the expansive suite of illustrations commissioned late in the British artist's life.

The composition captures a moment in Canto 30 of the Inferno, depicting the Eighth Circle of Hell, Malebolge, specifically the pit dedicated to the Falsifiers. Blake focuses on the harrowing physical experience of the poets, showing Dante and Virgil instinctively reacting to the putrid stench emitted by the tormented, damned souls, prompting them to cover their noses in self-protection. This emphasis on sensory detail is characteristic of Blake's unique approach, transforming the narrative moment into a visceral encounter.

The project dates to the period 1826 to 1850, representing the culmination of Blake’s spiritual and aesthetic engagement with epic narrative. Blake, a seminal figure in British Romanticism, utilized the precision of the engraved copper plate to render the scene with deep contrast and visionary intensity. The meticulous lines necessary for the production of these original prints reveal the detailed effort that went into translating Dante’s complex world into visual form.

This significant work is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of its age and historical importance, the original imagery has often entered the public domain, allowing scholars worldwide access to high-resolution prints and detailed studies of Blake's remarkable contribution to literary illustration.