The Death of Count Ugolino della Gherardesca and His Sons (Inferno Canto XXXIII)

Pierino da Vinci

Cleveland Museum of Art

Terracotta relief plaque depicting a scene from Dante's Divine Comedy. A group of muscular, nude male figures dominate the composition. One figure lies on the ground at the bottom. Three sit or crouch in the middle, and one stands to the right, possibly wearing a cloth wrapped around his waist. A flying figure with long hair and outstretched arms appears at the top. The rectangular plaque has a rough, textured surface and a reddish-brown color. The background behind the plaque fades from dark to light gray.