Art Institute of Chicago

Paradise: Canto XV (Fifth Heaven, Sphere of Mars) from Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy), Plate 48 from Woodcuts from Books of the 15th Century

Unknown Artist (Venice, late 15th century)

Date

1491, portfolio assembled 1929

Medium

Woodcut in black, and letterpress in black (recto and verso), on cream laid paper

Culture

Italy

Department

Prints and Drawings

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This page is from an illustrated edition of the book Paradise from Dante’s Divine Comedy . The poet and narrator, Dante, has already encountered many extraordinary things in the tormenting circles of purgatory and hell, where some of his deceased friends now reside. In this scene, Dante appears at the left with his lamented muse, Beatrice (they are labeled “D” and “B”). She has escorted him to meet his great-great-grandfather, who teaches him about his family origins and the Florence of his lifetime (depicted below). All the souls in heaven appear as blameless infants floating around the main figures.

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