The Dante Garden is an art installation by the sculptor Timothy Schmalz at St. Michael's College (part of U of T and in our neighbourhood). It was just recently completed. In the foreground is a sculpture of Dante and in the background are some of the 100 panels reflecting the 100 cantos of "The Divine Comedy." I am really not familiar with this classic work, but the panels are amazingly evocative.
So now I have to go look into Dante’s inferno, in more depth, to figure out what canto the panel he is holding refers to. Thanks?
ETA: Easier than I thought. I’m guessing it is the beginning where he is trapped in a dark wood. But now I want to know more. Odd really that I’ve never actually read it.
@gardencat Hi Joanne. The whole installation has 33 panels for Hell (Inferno), 33 for Purgatory (Purgatorio), and 33 for Heaven (Paradiso). The panel he is holding is actually #1, with Inferno starting at #2. When we were there yesterday, we met a priest who explained the layout to us. The panel that Dante is holding represents him being in the forest and about to enter Inferno. We saw this priest earlier with a copy of the complete Comedy. He was sitting by one of the panels and reading the canto pertaining to that particular panel. And then he reflected for a while. I thought that that was a good way to go about appreciating the whole installation. It would be a 100 day project. Hmmm
P.S. I just read your final comment. Yes, you're right.
A wonderful statue and such an interesting display. I will have to google Dante's garden and see what it comes up with. At least there are so many photo ops for you Heather ;-)
ETA: Easier than I thought. I’m guessing it is the beginning where he is trapped in a dark wood. But now I want to know more. Odd really that I’ve never actually read it.
P.S. I just read your final comment. Yes, you're right.