Dante's Inferno painted on 33 violins

(ANSA) - ROME, JANUARY 10 - A tribute to Dante through violin music and the art of ink painting.

An operacertosina that required a study and a commitment that lasted 5 years.

The artist Leonardo Frigo, in the year in which the 7 centuries since the death of the Supreme Poet are celebrated, presents his project dedicated to Dante's Hell.

    The work, previewed at the Royal Institution of Great Britain museum, Harrods and the Bond Street Awards event in London, includes 33 hand-painted violins and a cello, where each violin represents a song.

    "The main purpose of my work is to promote and share Italian culture in the world. Dante's Inferno has always inspired me since I was a child, I can probably say that it taught me to imagine and dream" explains the artist who lives in London and in the past he has also created a series of theaters dedicated to Pompeii, to Antonio Vivaldi and to the seven vice-capitals.

    "All my violins - he says in a video on Instagram that has already exceeded 10 million views (www.instagram.com/tv/BzTD12qgoMi/) - are inspired by a specific story or a biography. Usually starting by reading and then transferring everything I like to think that my violins can also be read like a book.

   Each instrument requires between 150 and 200 hours of work and so I am able to combine my two great passions for art and music. "

    On the surface, the violins bear symbols, scenes and key characters taken from the imagery of the poem chosen by Frigo, after careful research, the instrument is then painted, installed on its base and accompanied by an accurate descriptive text, both in Italian and in English, which highlights and analyzes all the details.

   (ANSA).