Middle Ring

In this ring are the suicides (the violent against self), who are transformed into gnarled thorny bushes and trees and then fed upon by Harpies.
The trees are a metaphor for the state of mind in which suicide is committed.  Dante learns that these suicides, unique among the dead, will not be corporally resurrected after the final judgement since they gave away their bodies through suicide. Instead they will maintain their bushy form, with their own corpses hanging from the thorny limbs.

This work is part of a project at long term. The intention is to upload once a month a personal representation of the circles that constitute Dante’s Inferno. In a total It will be represented 15 passages of Alighieri.

Seventh circle is a personal representation, that is to say, non-literal, of the works of Dante. In it we find the suicidal or violent against itself becoming a thorny tree until the end of his days. These convicted persons are obliged to live with the Harpy, which feed on them. In this case I have represented the Harpy (mythical being used by Dante) as a common Harpy Eagle. On the left arm of the character sits a mantis that I have used as allegory to Dante. In the popular Spanish tradition the mantis is considered as dangerous and poisonous as Dante was considered dangerous in his time for his social and institutional criticism.

Thanks for your visit!

I hope you enjoy it :)

Regards