Saint John Joins Dante and Beatrice — William Blake, 1824–27

A Meeting in Paradise

In Saint John Joins Dante and Beatrice, William Blake captures one of the most luminous moments in Dante's Paradiso — the arrival of Saint John the Evangelist into the celestial company of Dante and his guide Beatrice. Three figures, three spiritual states, united in a radiance that Blake renders with the full mastery of his watercolour technique.

This work belongs to the series Blake undertook in the final year of his life, commissioned in 1826 to illustrate the Divine Comedy. Blake's illustrations are not mere accompaniments to Dante's text — they are a dialogue, a spiritual commentary in their own right. Even as he lay near death, Blake spent his last shillings on pencils to keep working. These images are among the final and most transcendent expressions of his genius.

About William Blake

William Blake (1757–1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker whose visionary imagination placed him entirely outside the conventions of his time. His illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy are among the most extraordinary achievements in the history of art.

Print Details

Fine art giclée reproduction printed on Luster Premium Photo paper. Rich tonal depth and precise color fidelity.