The fascinating frame of the Rocca Brancaleone fortress hosts GIRONI DANTESCHI – a mosaic realized in November 2022 on the occasion of the 8th Biennial of Contemporary Mosaic.
Realized with the aim of giving a new life to the 80’s fountain transformed into a flowerbed, it pays homage to the two pillars of art and culture in Ravenna: mosaic and Dante Alighieri. The three horizontally-intersecting circles have inspired mosaic artist Anna Agati, who interpreted them as the three canticles of the Divine Comedy.
Agati drew inspiration from some of William Blake’s most famous illustrations and transformed them into mosaics.
Eccentric, esoteric and visionary, William Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet, painter and engraver. He realized the most significant illustrated work dedicated to Dante of the modern age – 102 drawings made with pencil, watercolors and ink where strong and mighty bodies are immersed in an irrational and supernatural atmosphere, between dream and nightmare.
The journey of our soul
Walking counterclockwise around the main flowerbed, you can travel through the reds and blacks of Hell, the greys of Purgatory and the whites and light-blues of Paradise.
Together with Dante, you will escape from the three beasts; see Antaeus placing him with Virgil in the frozen lake Cocytus; contemplate Vanni Fucci’s pain; feel frightened by Cerberus’ three heads. You will meet Beatrice from the top of her car; Saint Lucy carrying Dante asleep; and you’ll finally be captured by Saint Peter’s and Saint James’ glances in Paradise.
Just like a stone thrown into the water creates a wave spreading around, this work aims to resound in the imagination and spirit of who wants to enjoy it, in a circular and infinite visual journey.
Gironi Danteschi is a collective work created for the community. It was realized by mosaic artist Anna Agati in collaboration with Accademia di Belle Arti di Ravenna (Lorenzo Baruzzi, Daniela Guzzinati, Anna De Luca, Parisa Dehghani and Marica Zanga), architect Tito Palmieri and Associazione Amata Brancaleone Aps.
