2-709-337 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

'There stood I like the friar, that doth shrive a wretch for murder doom'd', c1890. Dante and the Roman poet Virgil encounter Pope Nicholas III, suffering eternal punishment for his simony (the selling church offices and roles). Nicholas is buried upside down: 'revers'd, and as a stake driv'n in the soil'. 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]