Commons:Valued image candidates/Gustave Doré - Dante's Inferno, Cantos III and IV

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Gustave Doré - Dante's Inferno, Cantos III and IV

declined
Images
  • Plate VIII - The gate of Hell
    Plate VIII - The gate of Hell
  • Plate IX
    Plate IX
  • Plate X
    Plate X
  • Plate XI
    Plate XI
  • Plate XII
    Plate XII
Description

Continuing from the above, we get Dante's descent into Hell and the first circle of Hell, Limbo.

The basic plot is that Dante and Virgil descend into Hell, where they meet Charon, the ferryman, who forces the sinners onto his boat, in order to take them across. He does not want to take Dante, a good person, but Virgil insists. The two reach Limbo, where virtuous pagans live, punished only by being forever separated from God's love. Dante meets the great Greek and Latin poets - Homer, Horace, Ovid, and the like - who accept him as their equal.

Yes, Dante really wrote a scene where great historical poets praise his poetry. The Divine Comedy is one of those books that works because it takes refuge in such incredible audacity, mixed with a heavy dose of creativity and rather good poetry, from all I hear (the original is, of course, in Italian).

By the way, if it matters, the numbering of the plates is mine.

Nominated by Adam Cuerden (talk) on 2008-11-18 16:11 (UTC)
Scope Nominated as the most valued set of images on Wikimedia Commons within the scope:
Gustave Doré's illustration of Dante's Inferno: The descent into Hell and the first circle (Limbo)
Review
(criteria)
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