Made for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London, this window was again shown in London to celebrate the sixth centenary of the birth of Dante in 1865. It was purchased for the Ambrosiana by public subscription in 1867. The poet is seated on a Gothic throne, flanked by the enigmatic Matilda and by Beatrice.
Above, three episodes from Hell are represented: on the right Dante, meets the three beasts that hinder his path out of the dark forest (canto I); in the center one can see the poet in a faint, overwhelmed by pity for the fate of Paolo and Francesca (canto V); finally, on the left the demon Flegiàs ferries Dante and Virgil on the Stygian swamp towards the fiery walls of the city of Dite (canto VIII).
On the sides of the scene taken from canto V, St. Dominic and St. Francis, founders of the mendicant orders, act almost as a mediation to the upper register, where the Virgin enthroned, dressed in white and venerated by angels, is depicted.
The author of this work, Giuseppe Bertini, created numerous stained glass windows for the Milan Cathedral.
From May 15 to 27, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan hosts Art in Respect – A dialogue, a solo exhibition by artist and couturier Filippo Sorcinelli.
To celebrate Mother's Day, on Sunday 11 May the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is offering free admission to all mothers accompanied by their children.
