2-709-589 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

'The crust came drawn from underneath in flakes, like scales scraped from the bream, or fish of broader mail', c1890. Dante and the Roman poet Virgil encounter sinners covered in scabs which they scratch incessantly. These are the falsifiers - a 'disease' on society in life, they are punished by being afflicted with disease themselves. 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]