William Blake (1757-1827 )Circle of Thieves. Agnolo Brunelleschi attacked by the six-legged serpent. (Pl. 4 for Dante, The Divine Comedy, "The Inferno", Canto XXV). 1825-1827. Burin. 355 x 275. Bindman 650; Binyon 130. Beautiful proof on chine appliqué. Vertical median fold skillfully restored on verso. A few light freckles and a light trace of oxidation along the upper edge of the copper. Small tear forming a white spot in the robe of the left figure. The lower right corner chipped. Good margins [392 x 307]. "In 1824, John Linnell commissioned Blake to design a series of illustrations to Dante's Divine Comedy, apparently with the intention of issuing a series of engravings. Blake prepared a main series of 102 drawings, approx. 37 x 53 cm, left at his death in various stages of completion but most including some watercolors. He also began, probably in 1826, to engrave seven of the illustrations, including the subject of this pencil sketch, but these too are unfinished..." (www.emuseum.huntington.org).