3-098-904 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Francesca da Rimini, 1866. Alternative title: Francisca of Rimini. Francesca da Rimini (c1260-1285) was an Italian noblewoman, daughter of Guido da Polenta (ruler of Ravenna). While reading together the story of Lancelot and Guinevere, wife of King Arthur, Francesca fell in love with Paolo Malatesta (c1246-1285), brother of her husband, Giovanni Malatesta, who, upon discovering the adultery, had them killed. The story of these young lovers, mentioned in Dante's Divine Comedy (Canto V, "Inferno"), was expanded upon in the 14th century by the Italian writer Boccaccio, who commented on Dante 's work.