Canto XXVI. The Seventh Cornice / The Lustful; The Angel of Chastity; The Wall of Fire; The Earthly Paradise; Dante's Dream of Leah c. 15th century

Curator: This image, "Canto XXVI. The Seventh Cornice / The Lustful," looks like a page from an old book, doesn’t it? Editor: Yes, it does. It seems to depict a scene with people amidst flames, almost dreamlike, with figures above looking down. It creates a sense of otherworldly judgment. What do you make of it? Curator: Well, the imagery definitely draws upon themes of purification and redemption. Fire as a cleansing force, a path to something higher... It’s a very visceral, if symbolic, representation of striving for moral perfection. Does the text offer any clues? Editor: It seems to be an illustration of Dante's Purgatorio, specifically Canto XXVI, the level for the lustful. So the fire is a purgatorial flame, where souls are cleansed. Curator: Exactly! So, perhaps it's less about judgment, and more about transformation. A journey towards enlightenment, you might say. Editor: That’s a fascinating perspective! I’m glad I asked, it reframes how I view the image entirely.