Florence, precious editions of Dante's Comedy on display from the Biblioteca Moreniana

From Sept. 16 to Nov. 16, 2021, the Museo di Palazzo Medici Riccardi and the Biblioteca Moreniana will host a small exhibition dedicated to the Supreme Poet, on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of his death. Promoted by the Metropolitan City of Florence and curated by MUS.E, the exhibition inaugurates the Cameos cycle, a small exhibition review dedicated to the enhancement of the works and stories linked to Palazzo Medici Riccardi.

The cycle kicks off with Dante’s Feast. A Journey in the Comedy, during which a selection of works related to the figure of Dante from the collections of the Biblioteca Moreniana will be presented. These include a valuable 14th-century edition of the poem, which features some significant variants of the canonical text, and a number of publications related to the 1865 celebrations marking the sixth centenary of Dante’s birth.

The Dante celebrations were held in 1865 in Florence and constituted the first major national holiday of the Kingdom of Italy. The celebrations involved all the major cities of Italy, including those that were still under Austrian rule or under papal rule in the case of Rome. In this context, newspapers and magazines were published presenting the many initiatives related to the anniversary, and many of these publications are preserved in the Moreniana Library.

These include Giornale del centenario di Dante Alighieri, the first issue of which appeared in Florence on February 10, 1864; the booklet Per l’erezione del monumento di Dante Alighieri nel sesto centenario, in which are collected the various monumental projects aimed at paying homage to the poet, among which only one was carried out in Florence, with the affixing of Dante’s statue in Piazza Santa Croce; and La Commedia del Divino Dante Alighieri da Firenze con la esposizione di Giuseppe Lando Passerini da Cortona, published by Leo S. Olschki in 1911, an edition that was produced as a tribute to King Vittorio Emanuele III of Savoy. Among the most valuable works is a 14th-century Commedia by Dante, which as early as the 19th century was studied by the Accademia della Crusca, which considered it one of the most faithful versions of Dante’s text. The work was donated to the Province by scholar and collector Emilio Frullani.

The exhibition itinerary runs between the Hall of Bas-reliefs, on the second floor of the museum itinerary of Palazzo Medici Riccardi, and the Catalogue Room of the Moreniana Library. The museum will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Wednesdays, while the Moreniana by reservation(for booking moreniana@cittametropolitana.fi.it).

In collaboration with the Biblioteca Riccardiana, there will be guided tours of the entire exhibition The Feast of Dante, the exhibition organized by the Biblioteca Riccardiana and other city libraries Dante and his time in Florentine libraries. Guided tours will be on Saturday, September 25, Sunday, October 10 Saturday, November 13, at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m. Visits are limited in number and reservations are required (055 2760552 and info@palazzomediciriccardi.it).

Image: The Comedy by Dante Alighieri (Frullani Fund)

Florence, precious editions of Dante's Comedy on display from the Biblioteca Moreniana

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.