| Reverse description |
The reverse presents a richly detailed high-relief depiction of Paolo and Francesca da Rimini, the ill-fated lovers from Dante's Inferno, shown in an intimate embrace at the centre of the composition. Paolo, clad in medieval armour with a quilted doublet, leans upward toward Francesca, who is draped in flowing robes with a rose tucked in her long, flowing hair; both figures lean toward one another in a near-kiss, their faces rendered with great emotional tenderness. A small open book is clasped between them, referencing the romance of Lancelot and Guinevere which, in Dante's narrative, served as the catalyst for their love. In the lower left background, a diminutive robed figure—evoking Dante the pilgrim—observes the scene. The field is richly populated with colour-applied deep red roses on thorned stems, providing vivid chromatic contrast against the antique silver finish. The curved legend PAOLO AND FRANCESCA appears in raised lettering along the upper border, flanked by raised bullet points. |
