Inferno: Canto XII (Circle Seven, First Ring) from Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy), Plate 52 from Woodcuts from Books of the 15th Century c. 1497 - 1929

This woodcut, of unknown origin, was made to illustrate Dante Alighieri’s 14th century epic poem “Divine Comedy”. Produced around the late 15th century, it reflects the cultural and religious milieu of Renaissance Italy. This particular image depicts Inferno Canto XII, showing the circle of hell reserved for those who committed acts of violence against their neighbours. Dante and Virgil are shown at the top right being ferried across the river of blood, Phlegethon, by the centaur Nessus. The image, along with the rest of the series, would have been aimed at an increasingly literate public. It helped to visualize and popularize Dante’s complex allegorical world. The printing press, a relatively new technology at the time, allowed for the wide dissemination of such visual and literary works. To gain a deeper understanding of this piece, one might explore the history of early printing, the influence of religious beliefs on art, and the reception of Dante's work in Renaissance society. Art, after all, gains meaning from its social and institutional context.