Canto VIII. Ante Purgatory / Nightfall Easter Sunday; The Guardian Angels; The Serpent c. 15th century

Curator: Here we have "Canto VIII. Ante Purgatory / Nightfall Easter Sunday; The Guardian Angels; The Serpent," an intriguing piece. Editor: It does feel intriguing. The figures in the illustration almost seem to be dancing, a bittersweet dance between earthly desires and spiritual longing, perhaps. Curator: Indeed. It's an anonymous work, likely dating back to the early printed editions of Dante's "Purgatorio." The print captures a scene described in the eighth canto. Editor: The presence of angels and that serpent hints at a struggle between good and evil. The faces are all somber. Curator: Exactly. Dante and Virgil are in the Valley of the Princes, a waiting area for souls who were negligent in life. The angels descend to ward off the serpent, a symbol of temptation. Editor: So, the dance isn't just an impression, but a visual metaphor for a spiritual battle. A potent image. Curator: Precisely, and the use of simple lines gives it an almost dreamlike quality. Editor: Yes, I see what you mean. It invites contemplation on the choices we make and their consequences.