The Circle of the Thieves; Agnolo Brunelleschi Attacked by a Six-Footed Serpent

"The Circle of the Thieves; Agnolo Brunelleschi Attacked by a Six-Footed Serpent," created in 1827 by William Blake and Harry Hoehn, is a powerful example of British Romantic illustration realized through the medium of engraving. Classified as a print, this specific impression is designated as a restrike, likely executed by Hoehn after Blake’s original design, preserving the intense visual drama characteristic of the elder artist’s visionary style. The subject matter directly references Canto XXV of Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, detailing the punishment of the thieves in the seventh bolgia of the eighth circle, specifically showing the figure of Agnolo Brunelleschi undergoing a gruesome transformation as a serpent merges with him.

The dramatic tension inherent in the scene is heightened by the precise line work and deep contrast achieved through the demanding engraving technique. This piece reflects the aesthetic concerns prevalent during the period of 1826 to 1850 in British art, focusing heavily on highly emotional, often apocalyptic, or literary subjects drawn from classic texts. The depiction of the mythical, six-footed serpent attacking Brunelleschi captures the terrifying fusion of human and animal forms described by Dante, a frequent source of inspiration for Romantic era artists seeking to visualize the extremities of human suffering and divine judgment.

While Blake established the foundational design, Hoehn's careful execution in creating this restrike engraving ensured the survival and dissemination of the image during the subsequent decades. The process emphasizes the collaborative nature of printmaking. The work stands as a significant marker of Blake’s enduring artistic vision and his continued influence on contemporary printmakers. This historically important print is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, allowing for continued public and scholarly appreciation of these iconic British works.