Blake did not view himself as a mere illustrator; he intended his work to be a "correction" of Dante's poem. While he admired Dante's poetic genius, he fundamentally disagreed with several orthodox Catholic tenets present in the text: William Blake and The Divine Comedy - Digital Dante
William Blake’s illustrations for Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy represent one of the most significant encounters between two visionary artists in Western history. Commissioned in 1824 by the artist John Linnell, the project occupied the final three years of Blake's life and resulted in 102 drawings ranging from preliminary pencil sketches to vibrant watercolors. Artistic Scope and Techniques William Blake's Illustrations for Dante's Divin...
: He often added non-textual elements, such as briars at Dante’s feet to represent material world entrapment or specific foot positions to symbolize the material versus the spiritual. A "Correction" of Dante Blake did not view himself as a mere
Though Blake intended to engrave the entire series, he died in 1827 with only seven plates partially completed. Despite their unfinished state, the works are celebrated for their: Artistic Scope and Techniques : He often added