Wikipedia:POTD column/August 31, 2006

Dante and Virgil in Hell (1850), inspired by Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy, was William-Adolphe Bouguereau's first major work. In this depiction of Hell, Dante and the Roman poet Virgil (in the background) observe a pair of Hell's inhabitants.

In his own time, Bouguereau was considered to be one of the greatest painters in the world, but he fell into disregard in the early 20th century, due perhaps to his staunch opposition to the Impressionists. However, today there is a new appreciation of his works, with over one hundred museums throughout the world exhibiting his oeuvre.

Artist: William-Adolphe Bouguereau
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