Canto XXV. The Seventh Cornice / The Lustful, Punished in Fire c. 15th century

Editor: Here we have an engraving, "Canto XXV. The Seventh Cornice / The Lustful, Punished in Fire," created by an anonymous artist. It looks quite stark, and the figures seem trapped in a very linear composition. What do you see in this piece? Curator: As a historian, I view this image within the context of its socio-political role. These illustrations from Dante's *Purgatorio* weren't just decorative; they reinforced the church's teachings about sin and redemption. The fire, of course, symbolizes purification, but it also visually represents the consequences of unchecked lust. Do you see how the flames engulfing the figures seem to push them lower in the frame? Editor: Yes, I notice that now! It’s like the weight of their sins is dragging them down. I had focused on the starkness, but now I see the fire as an active agent. Curator: Exactly! Art serves as a powerful tool in shaping public morality. Editor: I never thought about it that way, that the composition and medium are doing that work! Thanks.