G.F. Watts: Paolo and Francesca

"Paolo and Francesco" by G.F. Watts
1872-1884 . Oil on canvas, 60"x 50.98"

"G.F. Watts was captivated by the subject of Paolo and Francesca and painted the subject four times over a period of four decades. The couple were adulterous lovers in Dante's 'Inferno', part of his 14th-century epic poem the Divine Comedy. When their affair was discovered, they were murdered by Giovanni, Francesca's husband and Paolo's brother. Condemned to the Second Circle of Hell, the lovers were doomed to spend eternity in the black winds of the underworld. In this final and most complete version of his four works, the exhausted lovers still hold each other tenderly.

The portion of Dante's poem that inspired this image was: 

Th' Infernal hurricane, that knows no sleep,
Propels the spirits with its ruinous force,
Whirls, smites, torments them in its reckless sweep.
As through the air doves to the cherished nest,
With wings firm set and wide expanded, fly,
By loving instinct borne along, and press'd,
So forth came these from Dido's company,
Speeding their way through the dim air malign
So potent spake the tender, loving cry.'

The artist endeavoured to record in the countenances of these lovers their hopeless, tender love abiding through endless suffering; the passion of love imprinted for ever on their souls. Francesca's head leans on her lover's shoulder. Both faces are dimmed by the ashy pallor of a death passed through. With joined hands and arms clasped round each other, they are being whirled like faded leaves before the wind, their drapery caught back into the turbid currents.

Dante so far respected their passion that, in ordaining their punishment, he spares them at least the pain of separation. This picture and the 'Fata Morgana,' are the only two the G.F. Watts ever painted which are simply illustrations of written poems.

To be continued

(Excerpts from "G.F. Watts: Reminiscences," 1906, by Mrs. Russell Barrington.)