The Baffled Devils Fighting

Title

The Baffled Devils Fighting

Student Commentary:

This engraving from Blake's Illustrations of Dante (1978 facsimile) is also a depiction of the eighth circle of Hell in the Divine Comedy. The two devils are flying over boiling seas and are attacking each other because they are unable to find anyone else upon which to bestow their wrath. In the background, to the right of the devils, is a group of other devils on flaming hills; they are watching the fight as if it were a show. Even further in the distance, on a path in the center, are Virgil and Dante, also watching. This image is a good example of the varying degree of detail in Blake’s work on the Divine Comedy. The devils in the center of the image are very detailed, but it is apparent that he didn’t spend much time on this image other than that. The other demons sitting on the hill are mere rushed sketches, and there is only an outline of Virgil and Dante walking the path.

Links:

Detailed View of Image at the William Blake Archive

About this Book

Source

William Blake@Union Digital Collection