Gustave Courtois Dante and Virgil in Hell Print

Gustave Courtois fine art giclée print of 'Dante and Virgil in the Underworld,' a classical painting depicting a scene from Dante's Inferno.

Gustave Courtois Dante and Virgil in Hell Print

£16.00 GBP

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A Hauntingly Beautiful Masterpiece

This isn't just any wall art. It's an iconic tableau from the depths of Dante Alighieri's Inferno, capturing the ninth circle of Hell. Courtois masterfully depicts the frozen landscape of Cocytus, a desolate wasteland where traitors suffer eternal damnation. The print's central figures, the Roman poet Virgil and the pilgrim Dante, witness the gruesome punishment of Count Ugolino della Gherardesca, a historical figure from 13th century Pisa. It's a chilling scene, beautifully rendered, and a must have for fine art collectors.

Did you know that the real-life story behind this painting is just as dramatic as Dante’s poetry? Ugolino, a Pisan nobleman, was imprisoned and left to starve to death along with his sons and grandsons by Archbishop Ruggieri. The painting immortalises the moment Ugolino gnaws on the archbishop's head in eternal retribution, a powerful symbol of their mutual treachery. 💀

Another fascinating fact is about the artist, Gustave Courtois. While creating this piece, he was not only a rising star from the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, but was also working in a shared studio with his lifelong professional and personal partner, Carl Ernst von Stetten. Their close collaboration and shared artistic passion likely fuelled Courtois’ ability to infuse this painting with such visceral anguish and emotional weight.