'What through the universe in leaves is scattered' (Par. 33, 87): Mapping Global Dante in Translation
This exhibit traces the global journey of Dante’s masterpiece through rare and valuable printed editions, highlighting how translators, artists, and printers have popularized and reshaped the Commedia. These volumes reveal a dynamic dialogue between Dante’s poetry and the world. A global literary perspective transforms Dante from a monumental yet isolated figure of the European Middle Ages into a central presence in the ongoing international conversation about humanity, the universe, time, eternity, and the power of literature.
Co-sponsored by the Center for Italian Studies and the Devers Program in Dante Studies, the exhibit is curated by Salvatore Riolo, Notre Dame Italian Studies doctoral candidate, and co-curators Giulia Maria Gliozzi,Notre Dame Italian Studies doctoral candidate; Inha Park, Notre Dame Italian Studies doctoral candidate; andPeter Scharer,Yale Comparative Literature doctoral candidate. Theodore J. Cachey Jr., Notre Dame and Jacob Blakesley, Sapienza Università di Roma, served as consultants on the exhibit.
The exhibit, together with an upcoming symposium on Dante’s translation and reception, is one of the initiatives marking the 30th-anniversary celebration of the Devers Program in Dante Studies.
This and other exhibits within the Hesburgh Libraries are generously supported by the McBrien Special Collections Endowment.
All exhibits are free and open to the public during business hours.