In this poem Dante dreams that he is led to the death-bed of Beatrice Portinari, who was the object of his unfulfilled love.

An angel in red holds Dante's hand and leans forward to kiss Beatrice.

The symbols include the green clothes of Beatrice's attendants, signifying hope; spring flowers in the foreground symbolising purity; and red doves for love.

Alexa Wilding & Marie Stillman posed as the grieving hand maidens.

The painting was sent in 1908 to the National Gallery in London to be relined, that is, for a new canvas to be glued to the original.