'Dante et Béatrix'

Photograph of a work by Ary Scheffer, the prime verison of  which was painted in 1846 and is now in the collection of Wolverhampton Art Gallery (Inv. no. OP249). Inspired by a scene from Dante's Paradiso (CI line '64), the image presents Beatrice full length, standing on a cloud and gazing upwards. Her right hand rests on her chest, while her left hand hangs by her side. She wears a floor length robe, a crown of laurels and a veil. Behind her, to the left, stands Dante who looks intensely at Beatrice. He places his left hand on the middle of his chest and raises his right hand in admiration.

Ary Scheffer (and his studio) continued throughout his life to produce new works of old compositions on demand. His paintings were also widely reproduced as etchings.