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Dante Flees the Wild Beasts and Meets Virgil

Bartolomeo Pinelli

1824

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Dante Flees the Wild Beasts and Meets Virgil is a 1824 graphite by Bartolomeo Pinelli, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Bartolomeo Pinelli
When & what style?: 1824 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a chaotic scene with three figures in flowing robes. One person stands calmly on the left, while the other two twist in motion, arms outstretched as if running. The background is filled with quick, messy lines that look like bushes or trees, adding to the sense of movement. The artist used loose, sketchy lines to show action and emotion. The figures’ robes and the wild background suggest a story of escape or danger. Next, look up Romanticism to see how artists used drama and movement in their work.