Durante degli Alighieri, simply called Dante; (c. 1265–1321), was a major Italian poet of the late Middle Ages. His Divine Comedy, originally called Comedìa and later called Divina by Boccaccio, is widely considered the greatest literary work composed in the Italian language and a masterpiece of world literature.
In Italy he is called il Sommo Poeta and il Poeta. He, Petrarch, and Boccaccio are also called "the three fountains" and "the three crowns."Dante is also called "The Father of the Italian language."
The Divine Comedy describes Dante's journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso). He is first guided by the Roman poet Virgil, then by Beatrice, the subject of his love.
When Dante was 12, he was promised in marriage to Gemma di Manetto Donati, daughter of Manetto Donati, member of the powerful Donati family. Contracting marriages at this early age was quite common and involved a formal ceremony, including contracts signed before a notary. But by this time Dante had fallen in love with another, Beatrice Portinari.
Dante said he first met Beatrice at age nine, and claimed to have fallen in love with her "at first sight", apparently without even talking with her. He saw her frequently after age 18, often exchanging greetings in the street, but never knew her well. In effect, he set an example of so-called courtly love, a phenomenon developed in French and Provençal poetry of prior centuries. Dante's experience of such love was typical, but his expression of it was unique. It was in the name of this love that Dante left his imprint on the dolce stil novo (sweet new style, a term which Dante himself coined), and he would join other contemporary poets and writers in exploring never-before-emphasized aspects of love (Amore). Love for Beatrice would be his reason for poetry and for living, together with political passions. In many of his poems, she is depicted as semi-divine, watching over him constantly and providing spiritual instruction, sometimes harshly.
Victor Minca’s Exibition: La Divina Commedia di Dante. Ieri Oggi Domani, will give you the opportunity of placing Victor’s portraits of famous people (The Good the Bad and The Ugly) in Hell, Purgatory, or Paradise, by placing a red, green, or white sticker on their frames. Have fun!
Biography: Born in Italy, Victor started working as a Banker. Unhappy with the mundane tasks and lack of opportunity for creativity, he then became a Fashion and Advertising Photographer because "In Photography there are pretty girls." He freelanced for top international magazines and advertising agencies worldwide such as Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Vicor’s have been the Winner of numerous international contests, and have been featured in several international & domestic magazines and newspapers. When he is not painting, he enjoy playing renaissance music on classical guitar, and eating rigatoni while sipping prosecco.
“When I haven't any blue I use red.” ― Pablo Picasso & I