The Circle of the Traitors; Dante's Foot Striking Bocca degli Abbate

William Blake

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of two figures standing amidst a surreal scene. The drawing portrays two cloaked figures standing in a landscape filled with partially submerged faces and bodies in what appears to be a body of water. The two figures are depicted with delicate features and long robes, and they seem to be observing the individuals trapped in the water below them. The surrounding water is drawn with lines to imply movement or the texture of the surface. Several figures are submerged, their faces showing expressions of distress or despair. A rocky formation with faces sculpted into it stands in the background, adding to the eerie and otherworldly atmosphere of the scene. The entire composition uses fine lines and detail to create a ghostly and ethereal mood.