Dante's Inferno
Illustrated by Gustave Doré
Inferno is the work of Dante Alighieri and a volume illustrated by Gustave Doré was produced by Pollard and Moss (New York) in 1887.
The first of three canticas comprising Dante Alighieri's Commedia (later referred to as Commedia Divina - the Divine Comedy in English), the other canticas being Purgatorio and Paradiso. It is considered the central epic poem of Italian literature and was composed by Dante sometime between 1308 and 1321. |
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The themes explored within Commedia draw upon a number of influences including the imagery consistent with the then-contemporary Medieval view of a Christian afterlife - as fostered by the Holy Roman Church (later to become the Catholic Church) - in addition to contemporary political events, including Dante's exile from Florence.
Inferno serves as an introduction to Commedia - with Dante being met by his guide, Virgil, after the intercession of his beloved Beatrice as he was contemplating suicide - in addition to chronicling the passage of Dante and Virgil through the Nine Circles of Hell.
To the left, we show an antique example (circa 1887) of Dante's Inferno as illustrated by Gustave Doré |
Our Greeting Cards and Fine Art Posters
For connoisseurs of Doré's work, we have prepared sets of 76 Greeting Cards displaying each of his illustrations for Dante's Inferno and on the left, we show an example of how these Greeting Cards appear.
Code: GD I CS(76)
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When presented on Greeting Cards, these images are prepared as tipped-on plates - in hommage to the hand-crafted
approach typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century. Each card is
hand-finished and the images are presented on White card stock with an accompanying envelope. On the rear of each
card we also present some information about this great work and each individual illustration. We have left the interior
of the cards blank so that you may write your own personal message.
Similarly, we have provided options for the purchase of reproductions of these wonderful images on our Fine Art Posters.
Each of those Fine Art Posters is prepared with archival quality materials to ensure many years of ongoing enjoyment.
To purchase, simply click on the appropriate "Add to Cart" button and you will be taken through to our Shopping Cart secured through PayPal. Multiple purchases will be consolidated by that feature and shipping and handling costs to any destination in the world are accommodated by our flat-rate fee of US$20 for every US$200 worth of purchases.
We are able to reproduce these images in a variety of sizes and naturally, should you wish to order a Fine Art Poster in another format or individual Greeting Cards from this suite of images, we welcome your contact through ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com.
In the meantime, enjoy perusing these powerful images from Gustave Doré. |
An example of one of our Fine Art Posters in a superb 24x36" format |
Doré's designs for Dante's Inferno
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Portrait of Dante Alighieri |
In the midway of this our mortal life, I found me in a gloomy wood, astray. Canto I., lines 1, 2. |
Scarce the ascent Began, when, lo! a panther nimble, light, And cover'd with a speckled skin, appear'd: Nor, when it saw me, vanished Canto I., lines 29-32.
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A lion came, 'gainst me as it appear'd, With his head held aloft, and hunger mad. Canto I., lines 43, 44. |
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Onward he moved, I close his steps pursued. Canto I., line 132. |
He, soon as he saw that I was weeping. Canto I., line 187 |
Now was the day departing. Canto II., line 1 |
I, who now bid thee on this errand forth, Am Beatrice. Canto II., lines 70, 71.
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All hope abandon, ye who enter here. Canto III., line 9. |
And, lo! toward us in a bark Comes on an old man, hoary white with eld, Crying, "Woe to you, wicked spirits!". Canto III., lines 76-78.
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E'en in like manner Adam's evil brood Cast themselves, one by one, down from the shore. Canto III., lines 107, 108. |
Only so far afflicted, that we live Desiring without hope. Canto IV., lines 38, 39. |
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So I beheld united the bright school Of him the monarch of sublimest song, That o'er the others like an eagle soars. Canto IV., lines 89-91. |
There Minos stands. Canto V., line 4. |
The stormy blast of hell With restless fury drives the spirits on. Canto V., lines 32, 33. |
Bard! willingly I would address those two together coming, Which seem so light before the wind. Canto V., lines 72-74.
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Love brought us to one death: Caďna awaits The soul, who spilt our life. Canto V., lines 105, 106. |
In its leaves that day We read no more. Canto V., lines 134, 135. |
I, through compassion fainting, seem'd not far From death, and like a corpse fell to the ground. Canto V., lines 137, 138. |
Then my guide, his palms Expanding on the ground, thence fill'd with earth Raised them, and cast it in his ravenous maw. Canto VI., lines 24-26.
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Thy city, heap'd with envy to the brim, Aye, that the measure overflows its bounds, Held me in brighter days. Ye citizens Were wont to name me Ciacco. Canto VI., lines 49-52.
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Curst wolf! thy fury inward on thyself Prey, and consume thee! Canto VII., lines 8, 9. |
Not all the gold that is beneath the moon, Or ever hath been, or these toil-worn souls, Might purchase rest for one. Canto VII., lines 65-67. |
Now seest thou, son! The souls of those, whom anger overcame. Canto VII., lines 118, 119. |
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Soon as both embark'd, Cutting the waves, goes on the ancient prow, More deeply than with others it is wont. Canto VIII., lines 27-29. |
My teacher sage Aware, thrusting him back: "Away! down there To the other dogs!" Canto VIII., lines 39-41.
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I could not hear what terms he offer'd them, But they conferr'd not long. Canto VIII., lines 110, 111. |
Mark thou each dire Erynnis. Canto IX., line 46. |
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To the gate He came, and with his wand touch'd it, whereat Open without impediment it flew. Canto IX., lines 87-89. |
His answer thus return'd: "The arch-heretics are here, accompanied By every sect their followers." Canto IX., lines 124-126.
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He soon as there I stood at the tomb's foot Eyed me a space; then in a disdainful mood Address'd me: "Say what ancestors were thine." Canto X., lines 40-42. |
From the profound abyss, behind the lid Of a great monument we stood retired. Canto XI., lines 6, 7. |
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And there At point of the disparted ridge lay stretch'd The infamy of Crete, detested brood Of the feign'd heifer. Canto XII., lines 11-14.
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One cried from far: "Say, to what pain ye come Condemn'd, who down this steep have journey'd." Canto XII., lines 58, 59. |
We to those beasts, that rapid strode along, Drew near. Canto XII., lines 73, 74. |
Here the brute Harpies make their nest. Canto XIII., line 11. |
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And straight the trunk exclaimed, "Why pluck'st thou me?" Canto XIII., line 34. |
"Haste now," the foremost cried, "now haste thee, death!" Canto XIII., line 120. |
Unceasing was the play of wretched hands, Now this, now that way glancing, to shake off The heat, still falling fresh. Canto XIV., lines 37-39.
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"Ser Brunetto! And are ye here?" Canto XV., lines 28, 29. |
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Forthwith that image vile of Fraud appear'd. Canto XVII., line 7. |
New terror I conceived at the steep plunge. Canto XVII., line 17. |
Ah! how they made them bound at the first stripe! Canto XVIII., line 38. |
"Why greedily thus bendest more on me, Than on these other filthy ones, thy ken?" Canto XVIII., lines 116, 117.
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Thaďs is this, the harlot, whose false lip Answer'd her doting paramour that ask'd, "Thankest me much!" Canto XVIII., lines 130-132.
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There stood I like the friar that doth shrive A wretch for murder doom'd. Canto XIX., lines 51-52. |
This said, They grappled him with more than hundred hooks. Canto XXI., lines 50-51. |
Be none of you outrageous. Canto XXI., line 70. |
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In pursuit He therefore sped, exclaiming, "Thou art caught." Canto XXII., lines 125-126. |
But the other proved A goshawk able to rend well his foe; And in the boiling lake both fell. Canto XXII., lines 137-139. |
Scarcely had his feet Reach'd to the lowest of the bed beneath, When over us the steep they reach'd. Canto XXIII., lines 52-54.
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"Tuscan, who visitest The college of the mourning hypocrites, Disdain not to instruct us who thou art." Canto XXIII., lines 92-94. |
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"That pierced spirit, whom intent Thou view'st, was he who gave the Pharisees Counsel, that it were fitting for one man To suffer for the people." Canto XXIII., lines 117-120. |
Amid this dread exuberance of woe Ran naked spirits wing'd with horrid fear, Nor hope had they of crevice where to hide, Or heliotrope to charm them out of view. Canto XXIV., lines 89-92.
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The other two Look'd on, exclaiming, "Ah! how dost thou change, Agnello!" Canto XXV., lines 59-61. |
The guide, who mark'd How I did gaze attentive, thus began: "Within these ardours are the spirits, each Swathed in confining fire." Canto XXVI., lines 46-49. |
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"Now mark how I do rip me: lo! How is Mahomet mangled." Canto XXV., lines 59-61. |
Call thou to mind Piero of Medicina, if again Returning, thou behold'st the pleasant land That from Vercelli slopes to Mercabň. Canto XXVIII., lines 69-72. |
By the hair It bore the sever'd member, lantern-wise Pendent in hand, which look'd at us, and said, "Woe's me!" Canto XXVIII., lines 116-119.
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But Virgil roused me: "What yet gazest on? Wherefore doth fasten yet thy sight below Amongst the maim'd and miserable shades?" Canto XXIX., lines 4-6. |
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Then my sight Was livelier to explore the depth, wherein The minister of the most mighty Lord, All-searching Justice, dooms to punishment The forgers noted on her dread record. Canto XXIX., lines 52-56.
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The crust Came drawn from underneath in flakes, like scales Scraped from the bream, or fish of broader mail. Canto XXIX., lines 79-81. |
"That sprite of air is Schicchi; in like mood Of random mischief vents he still his spite." Canto XXX., lines 33, 34. |
"That is the ancient soul Of wretched Myrrha." Canto XXX., lines 38, 39. |
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"Oh senseless spirit! let thy horn for thee Interpret: therewith vent thy rage, if rage Or other passion wring thee." Canto XXXI., lines 64-66. |
"This proud one Would of his strength against almighty Jove Make trial." Canto XXXI., lines 82-84.
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Yet in the abyss, That Lucifer with Judas low ingulfs, Lightly he placed us. Canto XXXI., lines 133-135. |
"Look how thou walkest. Take Good heed, thy soles do tread not on the heads Of thy poor brethren." Canto XXXII., lines 20-22. |
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Then seizing on his hinder scalp I cried: Name thee, or not a hair shall tarry here." Canto XXXII., lines 97, 98. |
Not more furiously On Menalippus' temples Tydeus gnawed, Than on that skull and on its garbage he. Canto XXXII., lines 127-129.
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Then, not to make them sadder, I kept down My spirit in stillness. Canto XXXIII., lines 62, 63. |
"Hast no help For me, my father!" Canto XXXIII., lines 67, 68. |
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Then, fasting got The mastery of grief. Canto XXXIII., lines 73, 74. |
"Lo!" he exclaimed, "lo! Dis; and lo! the place, Where thou hast need to arm thy heart with strength." Canto XXXIV., lines 20, 21. |
By that hidden way My guide and I did enter, to return To the fair world. Canto XXXIV., lines 127-129.
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Thence issuing we again beheld the stars. Canto XXXIV., line 134. |
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