Dante on View

This insightful collection examines Dante Alighieri's influence on visual and performing arts, highlighting his enduring legacy through various artistic interpretations.

The collection of essays in Dante on View delves into the significant impact of Dante Alighieri, the renowned Italian Medieval poet, on visual and performing arts from the Middle Ages onward. This volume provides a comprehensive exploration of how Dante's image has evolved, particularly through medieval illuminated manuscripts, and highlights the various ideological and nostalgic interpretations of his work throughout history. By examining these artistic representations, the essays reveal the multifaceted ways in which Dante's legacy has been preserved and transformed over the centuries.

In Dante on View, readers will discover the rich diversity of artistic projects inspired by Dante's Commedia. The essays illustrate how the Commedia serves not just as a literary masterpiece but also as a source of inspiration for painters, actors, and filmmakers. The volume emphasizes the idea of the Commedia as a polysemic structure, providing a wealth of scenes and themes that artists can draw upon to create their own interpretations and expressions of Dante's work.

The book also explores the original multimediality of Dante's Commedia, showcasing how it stimulates creativity across various mediums—from manuscripts to stage performances, ballet to hyperinstruments, and film to television. By examining the reception of Dante in the visual and performing arts, Dante on View enriches our understanding of both the poet and the artistic movements that have been influenced by his enduring legacy.