On The Dante Complex In Images

Italian poet Dante Alighieri(1265-1321)as an icon of the era,is regarded as the avant-courier of the European Renaissance,the pioneer who open a new era of modern civilization and one of the important sources and symbols of humanism in the west.Under the inevitable trend of mutual learning,penetration and promotion between eastern and western cultures,as a Chinese art researcher who aims to actively integrate into the new development pattern and make a difference,it is important that through the study of Dante complex which in images to explore and trace back to the source of western art history and civilization.Dante is the man whose name immediately evokes a vivid image of his physical presence in Western cultural.As the projection of Dante’s thoughts,Divine Comedy has always influenced many artists from generation after generation with sacred or weird images,trying to interpret the spirit of Dante with visible images,or assimilating luxuriant imagination and inspiration from the poem.In the following centuries,‘Dante’--exactly so,as author and the work rolled into one--was a recurring figurative theme which had become a symbol.With the help of "visible words",Dante called for people to get rid of the veil that covers their eyes,and to explore nature and human itself.At the same time,Dante also sent a signal to pay attention to "realism" for Renaissance art.After several centuries,the spirituality with enlightenment meaning behind Dante’s images has become a common cognition of human civilization.Within the realm of art,the evocative function of image determines the using of its medium.The images of Dante have became a vivid thing and a symbol and complex in history,rather than a pure painting product.Through this cognitive feeling,the images of Dante have became a mighty spiritual power to evoke people’s inner emotions.This thesis starts with the illustrations of Divine Comedy,analyzing the thoughts of Dante which are contained in his Divine Comedy.Then,revealing Dante’s traits of humanism by exploring the iconic symbols in Dante’s portraits.After that,through the images of Dante created by many scholars and artists,attempting to explore how the images of Dante continues and endowed with more significance and connotation;finally,this thesis tries to explore the deeper content behind images of Dante studies,and to explain the complex in Dante’s images with the help of E.H.Gombrich’s studies in iconology.