Michelangelo and the Divine Comedy were the subject of an intriguing news article published in 1760 in the fourth edition of the “lives” compiled by Monsignor Giovanni Bottari.
Annotation by Bottari: Michelangelo owned a copy of the Divine Comedy with wide margins, according to a comment Bottari leaves at the bottom of the page about the universal judgment.
Michelangelo’s illustrations: Michelangelo utilized these margins as a place to doodle a lot, mostly of nude people, to illustrate Dante’s poetry.
Property of Montauti: this illustrated volume was given to Abbot Anton Maria Salvini’s acquaintance, the artist Antonio Montauti. This story is corroborated by the letters compiled in the “Florentine prose”.
Rome’s transportation system: Montauti chose to carry the volume to Rome after being called to San Pietro. He gave him to his student, placing him in a chest together with his other works and supplies.
Nassefragio: The ship sank while traveling from Livorno to Civitavecchia, resulting in the loss of the volume and the young student of Montauti’s death.
According to Bottari, this tale enhances the mystique and allure of the folklore surrounding Michelangelo’s missing illusory masterpiece.
