Located on the north wall of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo), this panel painting shows the famous Italian poet, Dante Alighieri, presenting his Divine Comedy to the city of Florence. While the Inferno and Purgatorio were presented literally, the city center of Florence serves as Dante’s image of heaven. Despite the issues that Dante had with his city later in life and his eventual exile from Florence, this painting reinforces the sommo poeta as Florence’s prodigal son and one of their most famous citizens.
