18th Century "Dante's Inferno" Etching
18th Century "Dante's Inferno" Etching
12 x 6 inches (plate)
Etching
Up for sale is a terrifying but stunning etching from Dante's Inferno showing the second circle of hell, lust. Unfortunately this etching has no signature or monogram within the image or plate. This print comes unframed and has its full margins measuring 14 1/2 x 8 inches with the plate mark measuring 12 x 6 inches.
The condition of the etching is over all very good with overall light toning which is to be expected with a 300+ year old etching on hand laid paper and their are nail holes around the perimeter of the margin due to however this was previously framed. Their is a very slight puncture in the etching through the woman who is in the far right middle of the etching which is virtually impossible to see behind glass and easily fixable. No paper is missing looking as though a point the size of a pencil tip is.
This grotesque etching is brilliantly composed as their are many bodies tangled up with, missing limbs, multiple breasts, flying heads with bat wings and so much more. Take a few minutes to really look at the images as you will continually see new things in content in the composition. I have been unable to find this etching as it may be the only one left printed. I can't say enough about the quality of this print and the historical significance that Dante's Inferno had on literature and the world.