029 The seventh circle – Dante and Virgil being approached by three souls, Guidoguerra, Tegghiaio Aldobrandi, and Jacopo Rusticucci, and Virgil throwing Dante’s cord into a lake and drawing up the woman-headed monster Geryon Divina Commedia (1444-1450)

The scene unfolds within a desolate, mountainous landscape dominated by a fiery red sky and jagged rock formations. The terrain is barren, suggesting a place devoid of life and hope. A group of figures occupies the foreground, arranged in a dynamic composition that directs the viewers eye across the canvas.
Two central figures, distinguished by their elaborate blue robes, are positioned on the right side of the image. One, seemingly older with reddish-grey hair, holds a long cord or rope and appears to be engaged in an action involving a body of water partially obscured at the extreme edge of the composition. His posture suggests deliberation and purpose; he is actively manipulating his environment. The other figure stands slightly behind him, observing the unfolding events.
Approaching these two from the left are three figures clad in vibrant red garments. Their expressions convey a mixture of urgency and perhaps apprehension as they move towards the central pair. Behind them, a larger group of individuals, uniformly nude and pale-skinned, stretches into the background. They appear to be shuffling forward with a sense of resignation or despair, their bodies marked by what seem like wounds or blemishes. The uniformity in their appearance contributes to an impression of collective suffering.
To the far right, emerging from behind a rocky outcrop, is a monstrous figure. It possesses a human torso but is crowned with a grotesque head resembling that of a woman, complete with long flowing hair and prominent features. This creature seems to be being drawn upwards by the rope held by the older man, further emphasizing his role as an intermediary between the figures and this unsettling entity.
The color palette reinforces the overall mood of dread and despair. The fiery red sky contrasts sharply with the muted tones of the landscape and the pale flesh of the condemned souls. The vibrant colors of the robes worn by the two central figures offer a visual counterpoint to the bleakness, potentially symbolizing authority or guidance within this harrowing environment.
Subtly, the composition suggests a hierarchical structure. The older man’s actions seem pivotal – he is not merely an observer but actively shaping the events unfolding before him. The approaching figures appear as messengers or intermediaries between the condemned and those who guide them. The nude souls represent a loss of identity and dignity, stripped bare both physically and morally. The monstrous figure embodies the terrifying nature of the realm they inhabit, a visual manifestation of the punishments awaiting them. The scene conveys a sense of transition – a movement from one level of suffering to another, orchestrated by forces beyond the comprehension of those who are subjected to it.