At the National Library of Naples 700 years of Dante iconography, from illuminated codices to precious editions of the Comedy

On the occasion of Heritage Days, the Vittorio Emanuele III National Library in Naples opens on Sunday, September 26, with free guided tours, the iconographic-documentary exhibition La Divina Commedia per immagini. Seven Hundred Years of Dante’s Iconography, curated by Paola Corso and Maria Gabriella Mansi and open to the public until Jan. 31, 2022 (free admission with reservation).

A richly seductive itinerary to Dante’s figurative tradition: on display are the most famous illustrations, such as Antonio Zatta’s prized edition dedicated to the Sagra Imperial Majesty of Elizabeth Petrowna Empress of All Russia), John Flaxman’sDante Atlas, Francesco Scaramuzza’s illustrations and Gustave Doré’s most famous illustrations in the first print run of the compositions. There are many rarities and originality; present in fact are the copper plates of Giovan Giacomo Machiavelli, that is, the original drawings made by Machiavelli between 1806 and 1807, which flanked the edition of the Divine Comedy edited by Filippo Machiavelli that appeared in Bologna for Gamberini and Parmeggiani between 1819 and 1821 with the engraver’s 101 plates. Curiosities include the Alighieri family tree, a Divina Commedia in Neapolitan and one translated into Hebrew. The place of honor is occupied by the autographs of Leopardi and De Santis. Also on display by Giacomo Leopardi are some autograph pages from the Zibaldone and the song Sopra il monumento di Dante with notes by the poet’s own hand.

The exhibition opens with the splendid illuminated manuscripts, from the earliest almost coeval Divine Comedy dating back to the second half of the 14th century, with seventy-six pen drawings; another richly illustrated late 14th- and early 15th-century codex from the collection of physician and bibliophile Domenico Cotugno; and finally, the illuminated manuscript dated 1411 belongs to the Farnese collection. Dante’s imagery, rich in suggestions and allegories, symbols and fantastic places, has always attracted the interest of artists.

At the National Library of Naples 700 years of Dante iconography, from illuminated codices to precious editions of the Comedy

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