2-709-330 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

'Unceasing was the play of wretched hands,...to shake off the heat, still falling fresh', c1890. Dante and the Roman poet Virgil witness the damned afflicted by 'flakes of fire'. 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]