Celebrating Dante: 700 years since his passing
September 14th 2021 marks the 700th anniversary of the death of iconic and unmistakable Italian poet, Dante. Known best for the Divine Comedy, Dante is considered and still remembered as one of the greatest poets. His brilliance is recognized by world-renowned poets and writers such as Pound, Beckett, and Montale hundreds of years later.
Dante’s legacy is celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic. In New York, NYC Parks used blow torches and other methods to touch up the bronze statute of Dante for the Rededication ceremony that was held on September 14th 2021. The event included live poetry and a reading and musical performance by students of La Scuola d’Italia.
Following are other celebrations:
The Divine Comedy tells the story of the persona, assumed to be Dante himself, venturing through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Dante uses 14,233 lines in this poem to tell a vibrant and powerful story of his journey through these places.
Dante is seen as an amazingly complex character. Alessandro Barbero, an Italian historian, explores these complexities in his biography, Dante. Not only did Dante create such a phenomenal piece of work, but he also influenced years of Italian paintings. The descriptiveness of his words and use of metaphor influenced artists to attempt to visually recreate these descriptions through art.
— Mahogany Brim
