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 in 1827, is a foundational technical piece in the artist's monumental, yet unfinished, series illustrating Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. This object- an engraved copper plate- served as the matrix for producing fine art prints depicting the intense punishments reserved for thieves in the Eighth Circle of Hell (Malebolge), as described in Inferno, Canto XXV. The composition focuses on the dramatic moment of transformation, specifically Buoso Donati, a Florentine figure, merging with a venomous serpent as punishment for his earthly deceptions.

Created during the final year of Blake’s life, this work reflects the visionary quality and intense spiritual engagement characteristic of the late British Romantic movement. As a highly skilled craftsman and engraver, Blake utilized the copper medium to capture the grotesque horror of the serpentine attack, employing stark contrasts of line and detail typical of the powerful illustrative style he developed for the project. The series, which remained largely unfinished upon Blake's death, stands as a profound interpretation of Dante's text filtered through the artist's unique, often heterodox, theological framework.

This specific technical material, dating to the period 1826 to 1850, provides valuable insight into Blake's working methods and print production process. The original prints derived from this plate achieved wide recognition among contemporary enthusiasts and later influenced subsequent generations of British artists. This key reference work is cataloged by the National Gallery of Art, forming an essential component of their collection. Owing to their age and historical importance, the final images produced from these plates are often considered part of the public domain art record, ensuring Blake’s powerful vision remains accessible for study worldwide.