Art Around the World World Art    

Lesson 18: Dante and Beatrice on the Banks of the Lethe

by Cristóbal Rojas

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the art region or artist.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

'Dante and Beatrice on the Banks of the Lethe' by Cristóbal Rojas features a scene from Dante Alighieri's narrative poem, 'Divine Comedy.' In the poem, Dante imagines himself traveling through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise (Heaven). The character of Beatrice is likely inspired by a real woman named Beatrice Portinari. Beatrice Portinari was Dante's lifelong love and muse, even though they only spoke twice. The painting depicts Dante, Beatrice, and many Nymphs near the Lethe River. The scene glows with light, and beautiful flowers flourish on the riverbanks. According to legend, all who drink of the Lethe suffer complete forgetfulness. In 'Divine Comedy,' Dante submerges into the river and suffers amnesia.

Vocabulary

Literary: Concerning the writing, study, or content of literature, especially of the kind valued for quality of form.
Masterpiece: A work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.
Divine: Of, from, or like God or a god.
Comedy: A narrative poem with a happy ending.
Hell: A place regarded in various religions as a spiritual realm of evil and suffering, often traditionally depicted as a place of perpetual fire beneath the earth where the wicked are punished after death.
Purgatory: In Roman Catholic doctrine, a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven.
Paradise (Heaven): A place regarded in various religions as the abode of God or the gods and the angels, and of the good after death, often traditionally depicted as being above the sky.
Muse: A person or personified force who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist.
Amnesia: A partial or total loss of memory.
Nymph: A mythological spirit of nature imagined as a beautiful maiden inhabiting rivers, woods, or other locations.

Concepts

1. Venezuelan painter Cristóbal Rojas was born in 1857 in Cúa, Venezuela. See his self-portrait below.

2. Zoom in and find Rojas' country of birth on the map of South America below.

3. Rojas lived a fairly comfortable life until his father died when he was 13. Responsibility fell to him to earn money for his family, and he began working in a tobacco factory.
4. Rojas' grandfather taught him to draw, and he eventually studied art at the Universidad Central de Venezuela.
5. One of Rojas' paintings earned him a scholarship to study in Paris, where he was inspired by artwork in the Louvre museum.
6. Many of Rojas' works feature people suffering from tuberculosis, to which he succumbed. Sick and out of money, he returned to Venezuela.
7. Rojas died of tuberculosis in Caracas, Venezuela in 1890 at the age of 32.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Dante
• Beatrice
• Nymphs
• Lethe
• Flowers
• Author of 'Divine Comedy'
• Dante's Guide
• Dante's Muse
• Dante's Lifelong Love

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the new words, point out any you see in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Practice Reciting Quotes from the 'Divine Comedy':

• 'All hope abandon, ye who enter here.'
• 'O human race, born to fly upward, wherefore at a little wind dost thou so fall?'
• 'Consider your origin. You were not formed to live like brutes but to follow virtue and knowledge.'

Activity 5: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 29 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The characters are Dante, Beatrice, and the Nymphs.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The setting is in the mythological Underworld on the banks of the Lethe River.

2 / 5

Question 3

What happens to people who drink from the Lethe River?

3 / 5

Answer 3

They suffer amnesia and lose their memories.

3 / 5

Question 4

Who wrote 'The Divine Comedy?'

4 / 5

Answer 4

Dante wrote 'The Divine Comedy.'

4 / 5

Question 5

Who did Dante love his whole life?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Dante loved Beatrice, even though they only spoke twice.'

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are Dante, Beatrice, and the Nymphs.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is in the mythological Underworld on the banks of the Lethe River.
3. What happens to people who drink from the Lethe River? They suffer amnesia and lose their memories.
4. Who wrote 'The Divine Comedy?' Dante wrote 'The Divine Comedy.'
5. Who did Dante love his whole life? Dante loved Beatrice, even though they only spoke twice.'

References

'Cristóbal Rojas (artist).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Dante Alighieri.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Beatrice Portinari.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Divine Comedy.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Lethe.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.