Canto VII. The Second Sphere: Mercury / The Seekers of Honor; Ascent to the Third Sphere; Beatrice Discourses c. 15th century

Curator: Here we have an anonymous woodcut print, “Canto VII. The Second Sphere: Mercury / The Seekers of Honor; Ascent to the Third Sphere; Beatrice Discourses,” housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is how dreamlike the composition feels, a blend of earthly and celestial realms. Curator: It illustrates a scene from Dante’s Paradiso, depicting the ascent through the spheres of heaven, guided by Beatrice. Look closely at the figures; they are so delicately rendered despite the relative crudeness of the medium. Editor: Yes, and there is a clear symbolism at play. Consider the stars; they could represent divine light and the multitude of souls inhabiting paradise. Curator: Precisely. The composition, divided into distinct registers, likely signifies the hierarchical structure of Dante’s cosmos. Each element contributes to the overall sense of spiritual journey. Editor: It’s a reminder that images, even seemingly simple ones, are always loaded with the cultural and emotional weight of their time. That explains the print's enduring power for me.