Dante’s Dream 1807

Editor: This is John Flaxman’s “Dante’s Dream,” from the Tate Collection. It’s a delicate line drawing. The figure appears to be ascending, held by an eagle. What story does this image tell? Curator: It speaks to the narratives of power and oppression embedded in Dante's work. How does the eagle, a symbol often associated with imperial authority, function here, carrying Dante upwards? Is it liberation, or a different form of constraint? Editor: So, the drawing is about questioning the structures of power, even those seemingly offering salvation? Curator: Precisely. Consider, too, how Flaxman’s neoclassical style, often used to legitimize authority, can be re-interpreted to critique those very power structures, and invite resistance.