The Circle of the Thieves; Buoso Donati Attacked by the Serpent

The Circle of the Thieves; Buoso Donati Attacked by the Serpent by William Blake, executed between 1820 and 1832, is a potent example of the artist's late-career engagement with illustrating Dante Alighieri’s Inferno. This print, created using the demanding medium of engraving, translates the terror of Dante's Seventh Bolgia, the realm of the Thieves, where sinners are tormented by venomous serpents and forced to undergo agonizing transformations. Blake’s masterful handling of the burin defines the high contrast, sharp lines, and dramatic lighting central to the scene.

The composition centers on the violent attack described in Canto XXV, showcasing the exposed forms of the Male Nudes as they suffer their eternal punishment. Blake interprets the source text literally, depicting Buoso Donati’s horrific metamorphosis as a monstrous serpent merges with his body, a core punishment for those who stole and violated property. The inclusion of the Snake, depicted with incredible detail and texture, emphasizes the visceral horror of the physical and spiritual degradation. In the periphery, additional figures, including Women witnessing the devastation, are positioned, adding to the dense, claustrophobic atmosphere of this section of Hell.

This iconic series of prints represents one of Blake’s final major artistic endeavors. The sheer detail achieved through the engraving process demonstrates the artist’s unique fusion of classical forms and visionary Romanticism, cementing his status as one of the most celebrated figures in British art history. This powerful depiction, classified as a fine art print, is held within the renowned collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As the work is now in the public domain, high-quality images of this profound masterpiece are accessible to scholars and enthusiasts globally.