Purgatory 2

This painting is based on William Blake’s drawing of the final terrace of Dante’s Purgatory where he, Virgil and Statius enter the flaming wall that separates them from Paradise. As counterpoint to the tormenting fires of hell, these are purifying flames and the light of spiritual vision. Blake seems to have struggled mightily with his drawing, and Virgil floats upward in a sweeping movement that contorts his elongated form. This presents a huge difficulty in my own version.