This is a showing of artwork based off or inspired by Dante Alighieri's epic poem "The Divine Comedy". Written in between 1300 and 1320, "The Divine Comedy" is divided into three parts: Inferno (hell), Purgatorio (purgatory), Paradiso (paradise or heaven) and describes the author's descent into and out of hell, up mount purgatory, and his eventual arrival in heaven. This poem has inspired countless works of art by many artists since the time it was written.
Drawings for Dante´s Divine Comedy, Sandro Botticelli, 1480 - 1495, From the collection of: Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
This is one of the drawings by Sandro Botticelli depicting scenes from the Inferno. This particular drawing shows various sinners suffering in their specific ring of hell.
Dante Meditating on the "Divine Comedy", Jean-Jacques Feuchère, 1843, From the collection of: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
This is a depiction by Jean-Jacques Feuchere of the author of The Divine Comedy,Dante Aligheiri, dreaming of his future story.
This is one of the original drawings by Sandro Botticelli depicting scenes from Dante Aligheiri's Divine Comedy, specifically the purgatory section.
Antaeus setting down Dante and Virgil in the Last Circle of Hell, William Blake, (1824-1827), From the collection of: National Gallery of Victoria
This water color by William Blake shows a specific scene from the book Inferno of the Divine Comedy in which Dante and his guide Virgil are lowered safely into the lowest section of hell.
Dante and Virgile, William Bouguereau, 1850, From the collection of: Musée d’Orsay, Paris
This is a depiction of sinners in a ring of hell who are sentenced to ravage each other for all of eternity. In Dante's version of hell sinners are punished according to their sins on earth. Dante and his guide Virgil can be seen in the background observing the scene.
The Gates of Hell, Auguste Rodin, 1880 - 1917, From the collection of: Musée d’Orsay, Paris
This sculpture of the gates of hell was started by Auguste Rodin but never finished.
Dante running from the three beasts, William Blake, (1824-1827), From the collection of: National Gallery of Victoria
In this scene from inferno, drawn by William Blake, we see Dante fleeing from three beasts. This is a specific scene taken from the text of Inferno in which Dante is rescued from the beasts by an angel who represents his one true love in life, a woman named Beatrice. I find the choice of colors in this very striking.
Salutation of Beatrice, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1880 - 1882, From the collection of: The Toledo Museum of Art
This is a depiction of the lady Beatrice, who was Dante Aligheiri's love. She married another man and his love went unrequited. Beatrice was believed to be Dante's muse.
The schismatics and sowers of discord: Mahomet, William Blake, (1824-1827), From the collection of: National Gallery of Victoria
This drawing by William Blake depicts sinners being punished in one of the circles of hell. The sin for which they are being punished is that they were sowers of discord during their time on earth.
St Peter and St James with Dante and Beatrice, William Blake, (1824-1827), From the collection of: National Gallery of Victoria
William Black has drawn here St Peter and St James with Dante's love, Beatrice in heaven. This was taken from the book Paradiso, or paradise, when Dante reaches heaven and is reunited with Beatrice.
Credits: All media
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