2-709-336 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

'Thais is this, the harlot, whose false lip answer'd her doting paramour that ask'd, "Thankest me much!"', c1890. Dante and the Roman poet Virgil encounter Thais, the Athenian courtesan who travelled with the army of Alexander the Great. Illustration from "The Vision of Hell" (Inferno), the first part of "The Divine Comedy" (La divina commedia) by Dante Alighieri. This long, narrative poem, written in Italian c1308-1321, tracing Dante's imaginary journey from Hell, through Purgatory and finally to Heaven and a beatific vision of God, has been published numerous times. This edition, published late 19th century, is illustrated by Gustave Dore. [Cassell Petter & Galpin, c1890]