Canto IV. Circle 1: Limbo / The Virtuous Pagans (Homer and the Poets) and the Unbaptized Children c. 15th century

Editor: This is an interesting page from an unknown illustrated edition of Dante’s *Inferno*, showing Canto IV, and depicting the first circle of hell, Limbo. The woodcut illustration seems to show Homer and other virtuous pagans. The mood is somber and unsettling. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This depiction provides a fascinating lens through which to examine medieval and Renaissance attitudes toward knowledge, virtue, and religious identity. Dante's Limbo is a space for those who lived righteously but lacked Christian baptism. The presence of figures like Homer raises questions about the limits of reason and the possibilities for salvation outside the Christian faith. How does the illustration reinforce or challenge traditional interpretations of this canto? Editor: It seems to highlight the inherent tension between earthly wisdom and divine grace, I think. Thank you! Curator: Absolutely. It reminds us that art is never neutral, and that artistic choices often reflect underlying social and theological debates.