About the Dante Inferno Mural
Two years in the making, the mural covers an area 13' high x 22' long and is located in the gallery room. It is comprised of 16 individual wooden panels that were made to fit together and be taken apart. The tiles were set to these panels already anchored to the wall. As a result, the mural is a seamless continuation of tiles with the ability to be taken down and displayed in another location in the future.
The 70 images are from Gustave Dore's engravings of the Inferno which are well known to everyone. The composition , format and english verse is by Dino Galiano . Difficult to photograph due to its size and reflective nature of the polished marble, it is best viewed in its location. The selection of the pure black marble tile was essential for good image reproduction. White Carrara and Spanish Rojo Alicante marble were used to create color and contrast.
The idea to create such an ambitious project was to give students a visual outline of the Inferno showing the highlighted scenes. Dante' s Inferno is not easy to understand unless it is taught to you. This work is meant to be used as an introductory teaching tool.
See : Dante Alighieri for marble carvings regarding Dante.
