Hind, Arthur Mayger; British Museum / Department of Prints and Drawings; Colvin, Sidney [Editor]: Catalogue of early Italian engravings preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum (1) (London: British Museum, 1910)

A. V. 2.]

Dante.

89

5. THE JUDGMENT SEAT OE MINOS: THE PUNISHMENT OF LUST.
B. xiii. 178, 41.—0. i. 418, 5.—K. i. 128 (ii).—Lippmann. 5,
A pit (the second circle of Hell) enclosed by broken cliffs. The spirits
os those condemned for the sins of the ssesh (Semiramis, Dido, Cleopatra,
Helen, Paris, Achilles, Tristram) are seen whirling in the wind. Dante
and Virgil appear twice, 1st above, to the 1., conversing at the entrance
to the circle with Minos in the form of a demon with horns, wings and
tail, and 2nd below, r., conversing with the spirits of Paolo and
Francesca.
[96 X 174] Fair early impression: second state, with the Roman number v near
lower margin towards 1. (and the same lightly scratched in r. upper corner).
Purchased 1845. 8. 25. 447.
Reproduction: Reid, London 1884; Lippmann, Berlin 1887; Basserman, Dante's
Spuren in Italian, pl. 52.
6. CERBERUS: AND THE PUNISHMENTS OF GLUTTONY.
B. xiii. 178, 42.—0. i. 418, 6.—K. i. 129 (ii).—Lippmann, 6.
A pit (the third circle os Hell) enclosed by rocky cliffs: the air is sull
os salling rain and hail-stones. On the ssoor of the pit lie the spirits of
gluttons, whom Cerberus (having one human and two dog’s heads)
lacerates with his claws. Dante and Virgil are seen twice; 1st con-
sronting Cerberus, whom Virgil quells by throwing earth between his
jaws; and 2nd, conversing with the spirit os the Florentine Ciacco.
[97 X 175] Fair early impression, somewhat rubbed: second state, with vi
engraved in reverse near lower 1. corner.
Purchased 1845. 8. 25. 448.
Reproductions: Dibdin, Bill. Spenceriana, Vol. IV. (engraving by T. Hodgetts) ;
Reid, London 1884; Lippmann, Berlin 1887.
7. PLUTUS : THE PUNISHMENT OF AVARICE AND WASTE.
B. xiii. 179, 43.—0. i. 418, 7.—K. i. 130 (ii).—Lippmann, 7.
A pit, with a semi-circle os rocky cliffs at the back (the sourth circle
of Hell). On the ssoor of the pit grovel rows os naked figures (misers
and prodigals), pushing heavy weights besore them srom opposite direc-
tions. Dante and Virgil are seen thrice ; 1st descending from the third
circle, and on their way meeting Plutus, who salls helpless at the mention
of S. Michael’s name by Virgil; walking along the ssoor os the pit
among the tortured spirits; and 3rd (their heads only, in the extreme
soreground), descending to the next circle.
[96 x 173] Fair early impression, somewhat rubbed : with the number vn written
in bistre in reverse lower 1. corner (uncertain state, the lower 1. corner being so
rubbed that it is difficult to say whether it is before or after engraved numeral;
probably after).
Purchased 1845. 8. 25. 449.
Reproductions: Reid, London 1884 ; Lippmann, Berlin 1887.
8. THE STYX, WITH THE PUNISHMENTS OF WRATH; THE BOAT
OF PHLEGYAS AND HOUSE OF DIS.
B. xiii. 179, 44.—0. i. 419, 8.—K. i. 131 (ii).—Lippmann, 8.
A pit, with a rocky cliff in the background (the fifth circle of Hell).
Through an opening in the cliff a stream ssows down into a miry lake (the
Styx) which fills the bottom os the pit, and in which are plunged the