The Circle of the Lustful: Francesca da Rimini (‘The Whirlwind of Lovers’) Possibly 1826 - 1968

Curator: Blake’s "The Circle of the Lustful" captures a scene from Dante’s Inferno. The swirling composition and the figures caught within it immediately convey a sense of torment. Editor: Absolutely, it’s a chaotic vortex. Look at how the lovers are trapped in this eternal whirlwind. Blake, who died in 1827, really conveys the psychological weight of passion turned to punishment. Curator: Indeed. Blake uses the symbol of the whirlwind to embody the uncontrollable nature of lust, and the figures become almost abstract, losing their individual identities to the force. It reflects a larger socio-cultural anxiety around the consequences of unchecked desire. Editor: And yet, there’s a certain beauty in the swirling composition, almost romantic despite the subject matter. It makes you wonder about the public perception of morality during Blake’s time. Curator: The imagery certainly lingers. It’s a potent reminder of how our cultural understanding of sin can shape our perception of human experience.