Double-sided facsimile of the Divine Comedy by Marciana, f. 58r–58v
Dante and Charles Martel in the sky of Venus
Limited edition of 199 copies There are cards that speak of love as passion. This one speaks of love becoming order, light, and vocation. This double-sided facsimile reproduces folio 58r–58v of the Divine Comedy by Marciana, a precious illuminated manuscript of the Comedy preserved at the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice. We are in Paradise, in the heaven of Venus, the celestial sphere linked to love. Here Dante, guided by Beatrice, meets Charles Martel of Anjou, a young Angevin prince, who reveals to him one of the great lessons of Paradise: every soul is born with its own inclination, its own nature, its own vocation. In the heavens of Venus, love is no longer merely earthly desire. It becomes a organizing force, a light capable of showing each person's place in Providence's plan.Want more information about this product? Click here and fill out the form to be contacted by one of our curators.
149,00 €
- Description
Description
What are you buying?
By purchasing this card you receive a double-sided facsimile reproduction of folio 58r–58v of the Divine Comedy by Marciana.
The card is printed on both sides:
Front: f. 58r, with the passage to Canto VIII of Paradise and the reference to “beautiful Ciprigna”, Venus.
Reverse: f. 58v, with the continuation of the dialogue with Charles Martel and the beginning of Canto IX.
This is not the original manuscript, but a single collectible facsimile leaf, ideal for framing, displaying, or preserving as a symbolic fragment of the Dante tradition.
Along with the card, the customer also receives:
• 24-month Antiquus guarantee to protect the purchased product.
• Certificate with colophon, which identifies the reference work, the reproduced sheet and the essential data of the facsimile.
• 10-point description of the work, designed to understand the historical, literary and iconographic significance of the card.
• Dedicated social content, useful for describing and sharing the cultural value of paper on your own channels.
A purchase designed not only for collecting, but also for understanding, narrating, and enhancing the work.
Description
This double-sided facsimile card reproduces folio 58r–58v of the Divine Comedy by Marciana, belonging to the Paradise section.
The sheet is placed at the transition between the end of Canto VII, Canto VIII, and the beginning of Canto IX. The thematic heart of the sheet is the heaven of Venus, where Dante encounters the spirits who in life were marked by the power of love.
On f. 58r, at the bottom of the page, the beginning of Canto VIII appears:
“I used to believe the world was in danger
that the beautiful Ciprigna’s mad love…”
Dante recalls the ancient belief that Venus, the “beautiful Cyprigna,” spread mad love on earth. But in Paradise, this image is transformed: what in the pagan world was astral influence or passion becomes, in Dante’s Christian vision, a force to be understood in the light of Providence.
The miniature on f. 58r features a rich celestial scene, with a blue background and golden stars. The scene evokes the world of Venus, love, astral influences, and the entrance into a region of Paradise where human desire is reinterpreted in a spiritual key.
On f. 58v the paradisiacal dialogue continues and the beginning of Canto IX appears, introduced by the decorated initial:
“Since your Carlo, beautiful Clemenza…”
The reference is again to Charles Martel, the central figure of Canto VIII. Through him, Dante reflects on the relationship between nature, destiny, and society. Charles explains that men are born different in inclination and talent; disorder arises when society fails to respect this diversity and forces each person into a role contrary to their nature.
This card, then, isn’t just about love. It’s about vocation.
In the heaven of Venus, Dante understands that love can be desire, memory, passion; but, if brought back to its highest order, it becomes light, harmony, and knowledge.
Iconographic reading of the front — f. 58r
F. 58r introduces Canto VIII of Paradiso, dedicated to the heaven of Venus.
The deep blue background and golden stars place the scene in a celestial dimension. The miniature features symbolic and narrative figures linked to the world of love and astral influences. In this context, Dante moves from the theological meditation of the previous cantos to a new paradisiacal sphere, where love becomes the dominant theme.
The text recalls the “beautiful Ciprigna,” Venus, and the ancient belief in her amorous power. But Dante transcends the pagan interpretation: love is not a blind force, but a power that can be illuminated and ordered by grace.
F. 58r is therefore a threshold: it introduces the heaven of loving spirits and prepares the encounter with Charles Martel, the character through whom Dante will develop the theme of natural vocation.
Iconographic reading of the back — f. 58v
F. 58v contains the continuation of Canto VIII and the beginning of Canto IX.
Here the theme of the Venusian sky becomes more personal and doctrinal. Dante dialogues with Charles Martel of Anjou, a luminous spirit who speaks to him of natural inclinations and the providential order.
Carlo isn’t just important as a historical figure. In the Divine Comedy, he becomes the vehicle for a universal reflection: each person is born with a unique disposition, and the world becomes corrupted when this disposition is ignored.
The decorated initial of Canto IX introduces the continuation of the heaven of Venus, with new paradisiacal figures such as Cunizza da Romano and Folchetto di Marsiglia. The card thus remains entirely immersed in the theme of transformed love: earthly love, memory, passion, and vocation are reinterpreted in the light of Paradise.
Product data sheet
- Reference work: Divine Comedy by Marciana
- Author: Dante Alighieri
- Original manuscript: Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice
- Signature: Cod. It. IX, 276 (=6902)
- Reproduced sheet: f. 58r–58v
- Canticle: Paradise
- Songs represented: end of Canto VII, Canto VIII, beginning of Canto IX
- Sky: Sky of Venus
- Main theme: love, vocation, natural inclination and providential order
- Main characters: Dante, Beatrice, Charles Martel of Anjou
- Further references: Cunizza da Romano, Folchetto di Marsiglia
- Dating of the original: 14th century
- Area of production: Veneto area, probably Venice, 1375–1400
- Script: Formal Italian Gothic on two columns
- Type: double-sided facsimile paper
- Page size of the complete facsimile: 27.5 × 43 cm
- Edition: 199 copies
- Price: €149.00
- Warranty: 24 months
Why is this card special?
This card is special because it shows one of the most refined passages of Paradise.
On folios 58r–58v, Dante doesn’t simply encounter blessed souls. He encounters a new way of understanding love.
Love isn’t just a feeling. It’s not just passion. It’s not just desire. It’s also inclination, nature, talent, vocation.
The dialogue with Charles Martel makes this card particularly timely: Dante reflects on the fact that every human being has an inner form, a direction, a calling. When this is respected, harmony arises; when it is betrayed, disorder arises.
The sky of Venus thus becomes the place where love is purified and transformed into the intelligence of destiny.
FAQ – Divine Comedy Marciana F. 58r-58v
Yes. This is a double-sided facsimile card: on the front it reproduces f. 58r, while on the back it reproduces f. 58v of the Divine Comedy by Marciana.
Folio 58r introduces Canto VIII of Paradiso, set in the heaven of Venus. Here Dante invokes the “beautiful Ciprigna,” that is, Venus, and opens the theme of love transformed into spiritual light.
Folio 58v contains the continuation of Canto VIII and the beginning of Canto IX of the Paradiso. The text remains in the heaven of Venus and continues the theme of spirits linked to love.
Charles Martel of Anjou is a blessed spirit whom Dante encounters in the heaven of Venus. In his dialogue with the poet, he speaks of natural inclinations, each person’s vocation, and the providential order.
The heaven of Venus is the sphere of spirits particularly marked by love. In Paradise, however, love is not treated as a simple earthly passion, but as a force that can be ordered and transformed into light.
This is the incipit of Paradise VIII. Dante recalls the ancient belief that Venus influenced men through love, then transforms this idea into a higher reflection on love and Providence.
The central theme is love as a vocation. Through Charles Martel, Dante shows that every soul has its own unique nature and that true harmony arises when this inclination is recognized.
Beatrice is Dante’s celestial guide in Paradise. She accompanies the poet to the heaven of Venus, where love is reinterpreted as a spiritual and ordering force.
The map is taken from the Divine Comedy of Marciana, an illuminated manuscript preserved at the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice, with shelfmark Cod. It. IX, 276 (=6902).
No. It is a double-sided facsimile reproduction of a single leaf from the manuscript. It is not the original codex, but a collector’s sheet inspired by f. 58r–58v of the Divine Comedy by Marciana.
Commentary Liber Abbaci + 3 cards (Folios 2 - 4 - 124)