Giulia De Maio

11 December 2023

Dr. Beatrice Arduini

C LIT 361 A / GLITS 311 A / ITAL 262 A

Sinners or Saints: Different Perspectives on Dante’s Condemned

Bocconi, Umberto, “Paolo e Francesca” https://images.app.goo.gl/R1sBSAWMgTyK32Rm9 Accessed 15 Nov. 2023.

Dante’s Divine Comedy remains one of the most influential texts of all time. Artists across various mediums have taken inspiration from his writing over the centuries, reinterpreting it in their works. The 14th-century text maintains its relevance in modern times through its impact on literature and culture, exploration of timeless themes, and its adaptability to contemporary issues and discussions. It endures as a source of inspiration and a point of reference for understanding the human experience and grappling with fundamental questions of morality. Umberto Boccioni is an example of an artist who took inspiration from Dante. In his 1910 painting “Paolo e Francesca,” Boccioni, an Italian painter and sculptor, revisits the tragic story of the doomed lovers Dante introduces in Inferno. Paolo and Francesca are ill-fated lovers who are condemned to the second circle of Hell for the sin of adultery. They are eternally punished by being swept by strong winds pushing them in directions they cannot control. These winds represent the uncontrollable passion that led to their adulterous relationship and ultimately their damnation. I chose this specific example because the story of Paolo and Francesca is one of the most touching and interesting ones that Dante writes about in Inferno. Dante's portrayal of Francesca and Paolo serves as a powerful commentary on the consequences of forbidden love and the torment that accompanies it in the afterlife. Boccioni’s painting of Paolo and Francesca illustrates the profound and enduring influence of Dante’s Divine Comedy. His exploration of morality and his condemnation of “sinners” to Hell reflects the social and religious ideals of his time just as the possible elevation of his sinners out of Hell reflects the changing moral codes of the future. For Dante, the story of Paolo and Francesca is a doomed tragedy; for Boccioni, it is perhaps a story of redemption and a celebration of passion. It is interesting to observe the different interpretations of the same theme, separated by centuries of historical experience, artistic expression, and technological progress.

Works Cited

Elder, Bruce R. 2018. Cubism and Futurism: Spiritual Machines and the Cinematic Effect. Wilfrid Laurier University Press.

“The Futurist Manifesto.” Obelisk Art History, www.arthistoryproject.com/artists/filippo-tommaso-marinetti/the-futurist-manifesto. Accessed 5 Nov. 2023.

“Futurism Movement Overview.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/movement/futurism/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2023.

Vojnović, Saša. “Futurism vs Cubism: Comparisons and Differences” Artlex, www.artlex.com/art-movements/futurism/futurism-vs-cubism/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2023.