Dante's Divine Comedy Manuscripts at Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan marks the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieri's death with an exhibition of rare Dante manuscripts from its library. The centerpiece is the Chiose Ambrosiane, a late 14th-century illuminated manuscript of the Divine Comedy, stolen by Napoleon in 1796 and returned after the Congress of Vienna. Also featured is a 15th-century commentary by Dante's son, Pietro Alighieri, who aligned the work with classical and Church literature. Among incunabula is a 1491 Venetian edition with 100 woodcut engravings attributed to Mantegna. The exhibition includes Aldus Manutius's 1502 edition in italic type, an 18th-century edition by Antonio Zatta dedicated to Empress Elizabeth of Russia, and a rare 1809 Bodoni-printed edition. A 1817-19 Florence edition dedicated to Antonio Canova features 125 large woodcuts. The show ends with Giuseppe Bertini's Dante stained glass from the 1851 Great Exhibition, alongside Amos Nattini's Commedia plates suggested by Gabriele D'Annunzio.