Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta 1819

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres's "Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta" (1819) is a neoclassical depiction of the tragic lovers from Dante's *Inferno*. The painting depicts the moment when Paolo and Francesca, caught in a passionate embrace, are interrupted by a shadowy figure, perhaps representing fate or their destiny. The composition is characterized by Ingres's signature clarity of line and meticulous attention to detail, emphasizing the characters' elegant forms and the intensity of their emotions. The painting is housed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Angers in France.