Public collection via the Cleveland Museum of Art
AT-00010125Dante and Virgil Meeting the Shades of Francesca da Rimini and Paolo
by Ary Scheffer
About the Artwork
Based on The Divine Comedy, Dante's epic poem of the 1300s, this painting depicts Dante and the ancient Roman poet Virgil encountering the souls of Paolo and Francesca on a visit to Hell. Although in love with Paolo, Francesca was forced to marry his deformed brother for political reasons. When the jilted husband discovered the lovers embracing, he murdered them, apparently consigning them to Hell due to their adulterous affair.
Inscriptions
Signed lower left corner in red paint: Ary Scheffer. / 1851
Provenance
Herman de Zoete sale, London, Christie's, 8-9 May 1885 (lot 96), Francesca da Rimini, small replica, 9½ x 13 in., to Agnew for 46-4-0 gns. Sold to F. Denison on 2 April 1886. Sale of the collection of Mrs. B. M. Denison, Christie's, London, 13 May 1927 (lot 113), Paolo e Francesco [sic], 9½ x 12½ in. Bought by L. Carroll. London sale, Christie's, 7 July 1930 (lot 152), Paolö e Francesco [sic], 1851, 9 x 13 in., 10 gns to Mrs. Samuels. To H. D. Samuels. London sale, Christie's, 31 October 1947 (lot 106), Paolo e Francesco [sic], 1851, 9 x 12½ in., for 4 gns to Maxwell. London sale, Christie's, 5 October 1979 (lot 110, repr.), Paolo and Francesca, s.d. 1851, for £3,200 to Hazlitt. Bought by the CMA in 1980.
Exhibition history
Year in Review: 1980. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (June 24-July 19, 1981).
Data retrieved from the Cleveland Museum of Art on October 8, 2026. The museum may have updated its record since.
Quick Overview
- Artist
- Ary Scheffer (Dutch, 1795–1858)
- Date
- 1851
- Medium
- oil on fabric
- Dimensions
- Framed: 45.5 x 53 x 7.5 cm (17 15/16 x 20 7/8 x 2 15/16 in.); Unframed: 24.7 x 33.2 cm (9 3/4 x 13 1/16 in.)
- Type
- Painting
- Classification
- Painting
- Department
- Modern European Painting and Sculpture
- Credit line
- Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund
- Accession no.
- 1980.40
More by Ary Scheffer in museum collections
Open-access museum record · AT-00010125
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