Francesca und Paolo, gemeinsam im zweiten Höllenkreis schwebend, rechts der klagende Dante, von Vergil getröstet 

Victor Müller created this sketch, Francesca and Paolo, together floating in the second circle of hell, with Dante lamenting on the right, comforted by Virgil, sometime during the 19th century. Müller, living in a time of great social change, engaged with themes that resonated with a yearning for moral and societal reform. He found inspiration in Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. Dante's work was a profound exploration of sin, redemption, and divine justice. In this sketch, Müller captures a scene of illicit love and its consequences. Francesca, a woman bound by marriage, and Paolo, her husband's brother, are condemned to an eternal whirlwind for their adulterous affair. Müller’s portrayal invites reflection on the rigid social structures and moral codes of the 19th century. It challenges us to consider the personal tragedies that can arise when societal expectations clash with individual desires. The emotional turmoil and the complex interplay of love, duty, and punishment are rendered with sensitivity.