Canto IX. The Third Sphere: Venus / The Amorous; Cunizza; Folquet; Rahab; Denunciation of the Papal Court c. 15th century

Editor: Here we have an anonymous illustration, "Canto IX. The Third Sphere: Venus / The Amorous; Cunizza; Folquet; Rahab; Denunciation of the Papal Court," undated, found at the Harvard Art Museums. The scratchy lines and fantastical cityscape give it a dreamlike quality, don't you think? What do you see in this piece? Curator: I agree; there's a definite otherworldly quality. The scene depicts figures ascending towards a large star, likely Venus. Consider how the artist uses the architecture, a somewhat crude rendering of a walled city, to create a sense of depth and perspective, guiding the viewer's eye upwards. It's as if the earthly and divine realms are interwoven. Editor: So, the city is Earth, and the star is… Heaven? Curator: Perhaps. Or, at least, a symbolic representation of higher ideals. The figures could be souls progressing on their spiritual journey. What do you make of the text surrounding the image? Editor: It frames the image and provides meaning for interpreting the illustration. It makes me curious about the relationship between image and text.