Divine Comedy - L'Enfer - Chant 17 - The Usurers - Etching - 118/242 - "Collectors Set"

Art Historical Context

Salvador Dalí’s illustrations for Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy constitute one of the most significant illustrated cycles of the twentieth century, spanning 100 images across Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.

In L’Enfer, Chant XVII, Dante encounters Geryon, a creature with the face of a just man, the body of a serpent, and a scorpion’s tail. The monster embodies fraud—appearing trustworthy while concealing danger.

Dalí’s etching captures this duality with controlled precision. The creature’s composed exterior contrasts with its lethal nature, reinforcing Dante’s warning about deception. The descent upon Geryon’s back is one of the Inferno’s most visually dramatic transitions.

Authentication & Documentation

This artwork is accompanied by an Authentication Report created to provide traceable documentation and transparency specific to this individual print. The report supports responsible collecting and informed evaluation of Dalí’s graphic works.

• Edition context and series verification
• Technique and material review (etching characteristics)
• Reference-based research relevant to the Divine Comedy series
• High-resolution photographic documentation

Collecting Significance

Chant XVII is among the most symbolically rich plates of the Inferno cycle. As the embodiment of deception and transition, Geryon represents the shift from overt violence to calculated fraud. Collectors often value this plate for its dramatic descent scene and its strong mythological presence.