Image by Karl Hahn, via Wikimedia Commons.ĭante meets two Bolognese friars, Catalano de’ Malavolti and Loderingo degli Andalò, who formed a hypocritical religious order. Gustave Doré (1832–1883), The Hypocrites Address Dante (c 1857), engraving, dimensions and location not known. Those habits, though coloured bright gold, are weighted with lead, forcing them into eternal labour against the mass of their clothes. In the next rottenpocket are hypocrites, who are are dressed up in hooded habits like monks. As the latter cross into the next rottenpocket, they realise that the pack of devils can’t pursue them beyond that point. He blames himself for the tormenting of the devils behind them, but as he looks back he sees them on the wing again and apparently heading towards Dante and Virgil. Dante reflects on one of Aesop’s fables about the frog, the rat and the hawk. Image by Karl Hahn, via Wikimedia Commons.ĭante and Virgil leave the devils attacking other barrators, and walk on in silence. Gustave Doré (1832–1883), Ciampolo Escaping from the Demon Alichino (c 1857), engraving, dimensions and location not known. Gustave Doré (1832–1883), Inferno Canto 22 verses 137-139 (c 1857), engraving, dimensions and location not known. Unlike others, he springs free and escapes their lunges as he plunges back into the pitch. Gustave Doré (1832–1883), Inferno Canto 23 verses 52-54 (c 1857), engraving, dimensions and location not known. John Flaxman (1755–1826), Canto 22 (Divine Comedy) (1793), engraving by Tommaso Piroli from original drawing, media and dimensions not known, Cornell University Library, Ithaca, NY. The devils pull out one of the souls for Dante and Virgil to talk to, but quickly return to hacking with their hooks. With those devils keeping company, they then reach a pit of boiling tar, in which the spirits of barrators are trapped. They work their way around some of the damage wrought by Christ’s harrowing of Hell following his crucifixion. When a group of devils armed with long hooks threatens Dante, Virgil hurries him on towards the next rottenpocket in Hell.

Gustave dore divine comedy