Louvre

Francesca and Paolo appraised by Dante and Virgil

The full name is the shadows of Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta appearing to Dante and Virgilio. Ary Scheffer.

Inspired image of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. The image shows the exact moment of a great historical drama described in the book. Accompanied by Virgilio on his trip to hell, both find the couple punished for letting their passion prevail over reason.

Francesca, daughter of Guido de Polenta, and wife for reasons of state to a deformed man called Giovanni Malatesta. The drama is triggered when she recognizes that she is in love with Paul, her husband's brother. At the moment they declare their love and both kiss, Giovanni discovers and kills them with his sword.

Scheffer makes many copies of this painting in various formats that are exposed around the world, but the one you are observing represents this drama in the largest size that we know.