2-709-537 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

'By the hair it bore the sever'd member, lantern-wise pendant in hand, which look'd at us and said, "Woe's me!"', c1890. Dante and the Roman poet Virgil look upon Bertrand de Born, a 12th-century baron and Occitan troubadour, who is condemned to carry his severed head in front of him for eternity, a punishment for fomenting schisms. 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]