Canto XXIX. The Ninth Sphere: The Primum Mobile; Beatrice Recounts Time from Creation to the Revolt of the Angels c. 15th century

Curator: Here we have what's known as "Canto XXIX. The Ninth Sphere: The Primum Mobile; Beatrice Recounts Time from Creation to the Revolt of the Angels," undated, by an anonymous artist. It's currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The whirlwind of figures makes me feel a bit lost, like I've stumbled into someone's intensely detailed dreamscape. What do you see? Editor: It does have that dream-like quality! I am struck by how the artist depicts the celestial sphere. Is it typical to represent such abstract concepts with figures and symbols? Curator: Ah, that's a brilliant observation. In earlier periods, visualising the cosmos often involved blending allegory with emerging scientific understanding. The human mind craves narrative, right? Giving abstract ideas concrete forms – angels, demons, swirling clouds – made them more accessible, more emotionally resonant. It's like trying to map the infinite with the tools you have. What do you make of that? Editor: I guess it makes sense. It helps bridge the gap between the unknown and what people can grasp. I am still not quite sure what to make of it, but I now understand it a little bit better.