Alighieri, Dante

Broadside: "Dante Alighieri first encounters Love"

Berkeley, CA, USA: Wesley B. Tanner, 1988. Limited Edition. Single Sheet. “As I thought of her I fell asleep and a marvellous vision appeared to me. In my room I seemed to see a cloud the colour of fire, and in the cloud a lordly figure, frightening to behold, yet in himself, it seemed to me, he was filled with a marvellous joy.” (lines 12-15) Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), often referred to mononymously as Dante, was the Italian poet, writer, and philosopher who penned the Divine Comedy, widely regarded as one of the greatest works in Western literature. Before diving into that life’s work, La Vita Nouva was published in 1294, a prosimetrum combining poetic verse and prose detailing his love and loss of Beatrice Portinari (1265-1290), the inspiration for the divine Beatrice in the Divine Comedy. This broadside narrates Dante’s experience following his first encounter with Beatrice which involved a dream or a divine revelation that she was destined to consume his heart: “After a little while I thought he wakened / her who slept and prevailed on her to eat the glowing object in his hand. Re- / luctantly and hesitatingly she did so.” (line 20-22) This is a relatable revelation for any person that has been struck by heartsickness for another, the vulnerability of which is overwhelming and akin to a spiritual experience. A simple yet complex piece of human nature observed and related with such beautiful metaphor as only a poet could. Printer Wesley B. Tanner (b. 1947?) founded Arif Press in 1970 in Berkeley, CA, specializing in fine limited editions, and he printed this run of broadsides “for friends.” The translation from the original Italian is provided by Barbara Reynolds. Single sheet (appx. 10” x 23”): first edition, first printing, one of 150 copies, as indicated near bottom edge. In near fine condition with minor bumping to the fine edges and corners; minor creasing along bottom edge; minor spotting at left edge near upper center; minor scuffing near top and bottom edges. This item is too delicate to be rolled & must be shipped flat to assure no damage, therefore an extra handling fee of $3.00 will be required. Near Fine. [Item #6810]

Price: $50.00