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Bart Sanciolo - Dante's Divine Comedy

Location Latrobe University, Kingsbury Drive,, BUNDOORA VIC 3083 - Property No B6469 File Number B6469 Level Local

[1/1] B469 Dante's Divine Comedy

Statement of Significance

Dante's Divine comedy is of local significance on the basis of literary associations, social grounds and aesthetic merit. For an Australian setting it is notable for being a monument to a major European literary and cultural work, which inspired many artistic imaginations for centuries. More importantly, the Divine Comedy was written not in literary Latin, but in a language based on Tuscan and similar neighbouring dialects, which became the basis for the literary Italian language. (Bulletin) The sculpture draws attention to Dante's life, education, ideas, imagination and sources for his work, as well as to contemporary medieval views of religion and the after life. Despite the complexity and length of the original text, the sculpture provides an insight to its content, which encourages further investigation.
The project gained widespread moral and financial support of the Melbourne Italian community. The gesture reflects their generosity, contribution and commitment to Australia. It demonstrates an affection for their culture and language.
An important parallel to twentieth century emigration is that Dante, an exile from Florence remained a migrant for the rest of his life, but retained an affection for his homeland. It is an appropriate monument from one of the country's largest migrant communities with a long history of settlement here.
The simple bold outline is of dimensions that attract the spectator's attention. The faces of the sculpture are enriched by figures perceptively and realistically portraying the drama of Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso, with appropriate styles, e.g. agony, torment, despair, fear in Inferno contrasts with the more peaceful religious character of Paradiso. The indentations of the pyramid has modified an otherwise stark geometric form, creating greater real depth for the reliefs, thereby enhancing their realism.
Classified: 17/11/1993