Canto XXVII. Ascent to the Ninth Sphere: The Primum Mobile c. 15th century

Curator: So, what grabs you about this page from an old book, Canto XXVII, no date or artist known, found in the Harvard Art Museums? Editor: Well, the swirl in the upper right, it feels like a vortex, almost hypnotizing. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s a diagrammatic vision of the heavens, inspired by Dante’s Paradiso. Look closely at the concentric circles. It depicts the ascent to the ninth sphere. Can you see how it moves from the earthly to the divine? Editor: It’s certainly intricate! I guess I was just drawn to the overall abstract pattern. It didn't scream "divine" to me at first. Curator: Ah, but that’s the beauty of it, isn't it? We bring our own interpretations to these historical echoes. It's a dance between intent and reception. Editor: Right. I see that now. I’ll never look at a vortex the same way again.