Dante Festival Celebrates Italian Poet’s Ancient Work

When:
Saturday, Oct 29, 2016 11:30a -
4:00p

Where:
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
25 Evans way
Boston, MA 02110

EventScheduled OfflineEventAttendanceMode

Admission:
$Adults $15; seniors $12; college students $5; free for members, visitors under 18, and members of the US military and their families

Categories:
Art, Festivals & Fairs, Kid Friendly, Music, Performing Arts

Event website:
http://www.gardnermuseum.org/calendar/events/7384

BOSTON (Oct. 2016) - The Italian poet of the Middle Ages, Dante Alighieri, is enjoying a second act. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum features illuminated manuscripts and rare printed books in its newly-opened exhibition, “Beyond Words: Italian Renaissance Books.” Among these exquisite books are four copies of Dante’s Divine Comedy from the Gardner collection, including the first Florentine edition to come to the United States. Brush up on your Dante knowledge by diving into Dante Festival, a celebration of his life and contributions to literature and art at the Gardner Museum on Saturday, October 29 beginning at 11:30 a.m. Then watch the new blockbuster film, “Inferno,” in a whole new light.


The Festival will offer visitors creative ways to explore and connect with Dante's poetry and will feature art-making, performance, readings, and participatory gallery experiences. The events are free with Museum admission.


Isabella Stewart Gardner’s interest in the art and culture of Italy began with Dante. Her collection includes rare editions of his work, including the first Florentine copy of Dante’s Divine Comedy, illustrated by Botticelli and the first of this edition to become part of an American collection.


The day’s program will include performances by Urbanity Dance, a Boston-based contemporary dance company. Urbanity dancers will perform improvisational pieces, which respond to cantos from Divine Comedy, with original music by Boston composer Rob Jaret. Also performing will be Anne Azéma of the Boston Camerata, a world-famous singer of medieval songs. She will surprise guests with impromptu performances of vocal music Dante might have heard in the palaces of 14th century Florence.


Short talks about “Love, Greed and God in Dante’s Divine Comedy” will be given by Peter S. Hawkins of Yale Divinity School, Rachel Jacoff of Wellesley College, and Lino Pertile of Harvard University. “Dante Today” will be discussed by Arielle Saiber of Bowdoin College.


To invite creative interpretations of Dante’s work, Karen Gorst, a manuscript illuminator and calligrapher, will work with guests to experiment with Renaissance style of gold leaf and handmade prints to illustrate a page from Isabella Stewart Gardner’s copy of Dante’s Divine Comedy for “Illuminating Dante.” Visitors will also be invited to connect with the “Typewriter Rodeo” poets, who will write custom poems on vintage typewriters.


Tickets are available with Museum admission. Adults $15; seniors $12; college students $5; free for members, visitors under 18, and members of the US military and their families. Activities are designed for ages 7 and up. Children under 12 must be accompanies by an adult. Tickets can be purchased online at www.gardnermuseum.org or by calling 617-278-5156.


The Gardner Museum’s copy of Dante’s Divine Comedy is also on exhibit as part of “Beyond Words: Italian Renaissance Books” in the Hostetter Gallery through Jan. 16, 2017.

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10/29/2016 11:30:00 10/29/2016 16:00:00 America/New_York Dante Festival Celebrates Italian Poet’s Ancient Work BOSTON (Oct. 2016) - The Italian poet of the Middle Ages, Dante Alighieri, is enjoying a second act. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum features illuminated manuscripts and rare printed books in i...

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