Structure and innovations Divine Comedy Illustrated by Botticelli

the illustration canto xv part of third round of inferno, depicting punishment of acted violently against god, nature, , art.

botticelli s manuscripts incorporate several innovations in way text , images presented in volume. in other similar illustrated manuscripts of dante s inferno, multiple illustrations used depict events described in canto. in addition, of space in page given illustration , associated commentary while text portion smaller in comparison. therefore, single canto spread on multiple pages. botticelli s text , illustration arrangement innovates presenting text on single page in 4 vertical columns.

in addition, unlike similar works, botticelli s manuscript uses single illustration per canto, occupied whole page, presenting unified depiction of sequence of events of canto in vertical format. way, readers know when advance new page, enter thematic sequence of new canto. text of each canto, left right, matches, high degree, pictorial representation reader views illustration upper left corner , proceeds downwards. reflects vertical structure of descent of 2 poets through 9 circles of hell. additional 2 illustrations of map of hell , lucifer lie outside canto-text structure, providing element of continuity unifies work. lucifer s second drawing botticelli inferno xxxiv spans across 2 pages, , lies outside text-illustration structure, unifying narrative of series. illustrates full story of inferno canto xxxiv , shows lucifer s geographical position in hell.

botticelli renders vertically ground planes of illustrations of second , third rounds of inferno. although illustrations first 3 rounds depict different imagery, vertical perspective links them single unit. third round consists of illustrations cantos xv, xvi , xvii, depict punishment of sinned violence against god, nature , art.

botticelli uses thirteen drawings illustrate eighth circle of hell, depicting ten chasms dante , virgil descend through ridge.