The artwork titled “Dante and Beatrice,” created by John William Waterhouse circa 1914, is an oil on canvas piece that measures 62.2 x 49.5 cm. It belongs to the Romanticism art movement and falls under the genre of literary painting. This particular piece is located at the Dahesh Museum of Art in New York City, NY, US.
In the artwork, the viewer is presented with a scene inspired by the literary figures of Dante Alighieri and Beatrice Portinari, characters from Dante’s “La Vita Nuova” and “The Divine Comedy.” The composition portrays Dante kneeling in adoration before Beatrice, who is depicted standing gracefully beneath a blossoming tree. She holds a bouquet of flowers and is dressed in a flowing white gown, her serene expression emphasizing her ethereal beauty. The background is an enchanting forest, rendered in earthy tones, which evokes a sense of tranquility and reverence. The other figures present in the scene add depth and context, underscoring the narrative’s romantic and spiritual dimensions.
