https://library.artstor.org/#/asset/SS35197_35197_19446895

Pinelli, Bartolomeo (Italian sculptor, painter, and printmaker, 1781-1835)

This is a image of Dante fainting after listening to the bitter love story of Francesca.

When Dante and Virgil enter the second Hell they are met with a raging tempest, “The infernal whirlwind, which never rests, drives the spirits before its violence; turning and striking, it tortures them. ” (31-33). The sinners of the second hell are those that fell victim to their own lust and weak will and are thus punished by losing control of their bodies like they have when they succumbed to their sins. The whirlwind is intense throwing bodies back and forth to the wails of occupants “Now the grief-stricken note begin to make themselves heard; now i have come where much weeping assails me” (25-27). Dante listens as Virgil starts to point out those in the storm slowly giving him bits of their respective history. Dante, prompted by Virgil, calls out to a couple and listens to their bitter tale of love. Overwhelmed with pity for Francesca and Paolo he falls over and faints after their tragic story is finished.

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