Botticelli’s Inferno Painting

Sandro Botticelli was a renaissance painter in Florence best known today for his works “The Birth of Venus” and “Primavera” (Spring). However he also created stunning works of art inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. Here are a few examples.

Botticelli's map of Inferno
Inferno

The topography of Dante’s Inferno is a series of ever smaller concentric circles in a funnel shape. The less serious sins are punished in the upper regions while the more serious sinners are in the lower regions. Satan resides at the very bottom of Inferno.

Close up of Inferno map
Close up of Inferno

Dante and Virgil enter through The Gate of Hell

They are ferried across one of Hell’s three rivers.

Circles
Circles of Inferno

Several Circles of Hell

You can see Botticelli’s rendering of the feet of corrupt popes sticking up through holes in the rock.

satan
Satan

Satan in the pit of Hell

Dante meets the Panderers and Flatterers in Hell
Dante meets the Panderers and Flatterers in Hell

See:  Botticelli’s Inferno Drawings

 

 

 

Author: Dave

Creator of Dante Explorer

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