This term, we tried something a little different in our homeschool: a picture study designed not primarily for art appreciation, but to support literature. Our focus was Picture Study: Botticelli’s Map of Hell, created by Sandro Botticelli as an illustration of The Divine Comedy.
The parchment was completed by Botticelli between 1480 and 1490, using the technique of silverpoint and coloured pencils. This alone made it unique for us—this was the first time we had ever studied anything coloured in with pencils!
The Map of Hell is one of seven of Botticelli’s parchments currently kept in the Vatican Library in Rome. Although many artists have tried to replicate visually The Divine Comedy, Botticelli is known for his attention to detail and faithfulness to Dante’s words.
A Closer Look at Botticelli’s Map of Hell
Botticelli’s Map of Hell is a fascinating and intricate visual interpretation of Inferno. Rather than presenting separate scenes, Botticelli depicts Hell as a vast, funnel-shaped pit descending deep into the earth, narrowing as it reaches its icy core. Each of the nine circles is carefully structured and layered, spiralling downward in a way that mirrors Dante’s journey step by step.
Detail
What is particularly striking is the sheer density of detail, tiny, almost miniature figures populate every level, each engaged in their own punishment, reflecting the specific sins described in the poem. Despite their size (many less than a centimetre), Botticelli manages to convey movement, emotion, and narrative progression, guiding the viewer’s eye downward through the circles.
Colour and Tones
The muted tones, soft browns, greys, and faint reds, create a subdued, almost haunting atmosphere rather than a dramatic or fiery one, which may surprise children expecting a more stereotypical “hellish” scene. The upper portion begins with the dark forest and the three beasts that block Dante’s path, before opening into the structured descent of Hell itself. Near the bottom, the final circle culminates in the frozen lake of Cocytus, where Satan resides, reinforcing the idea that the deepest part of Hell is not fiery chaos, but cold isolation. Overall, the image feels less like a single artwork and more like a visual map or diagram, something to be studied slowly and repeatedly, revealing more each time.
Why Study This Piece? (Even When It’s Difficult!)
I’ll be honest, the small size of this piece (32.5 cm by 47.5 cm, with figures less than 1 cm tall) makes it a challenging study.
Nonetheless, I felt it would be a helpful exercise in aiding the children’s understanding and visualisation of Inferno.
As the author of The World of Dante states:
“In the Chart of Hell, Botticelli spatializes and adapts what is essentially a temporal experience, namely the reading of poetry.”
Being 10 and 11, they need all the help they can get (as do I!).
It is important to understand that my goal for this study is simply a greater understanding of Dante’s Inferno. It is thus primarily to aid their literature studies rather than add to their artistic knowledge.
Which is just as well, because as an art lesson… this study sucked!
Meet Sandro Botticelli: Painter of Beauty and Dreams
Book Summary
Meet Sandro Botticelli: Painter of Beauty and Dreams introduces children to the life and work of Sandro Botticelli in a gentle, engaging, and story-driven way. Part of the Inspired by the Masters series, the book presents Botticelli not just as an artist, but as a real person living and working during the Italian Renaissance.
The narrative follows Botticelli’s journey as a young apprentice through to becoming a celebrated painter in Florence, a city rich in creativity and patronage. Children are given glimpses into his world, his training, the influence of his teachers, and the importance of powerful families like the Medici in supporting the arts.
The book highlights some of his most famous works, including Primavera and The Birth of Venus, explaining them in a way that is accessible to younger readers without overwhelming them with detail. It emphasises Botticelli’s love of beauty, storytelling, and imagination, helping children understand both what he painted and why.
Review (From a Homeschool Perspective)
This is a lovely introduction to Botticelli for younger children and works particularly well as a gentle companion to a picture study like Picture Study: Botticelli’s Map of Hell.
What I appreciated most is how the book makes Botticelli feel human. Rather than presenting art as something distant or overly academic, it invites children into his world, his training, his challenges, and his inspirations. This makes it much easier for children to connect with the artwork on a personal level.
The tone is calm and engaging, making it ideal for read-alouds. It doesn’t rush, and it doesn’t overload children with facts, something I’ve found especially important when introducing Renaissance art.
That said, it is very much an introductory book. If you are looking for in-depth analysis or detailed discussion of specific works (such as the Map of Hell), you won’t find it here. Instead, it provides a broad and accessible overview, perfect as a starting point, but not as a standalone study for older students.
What Worked Well in Our Homeschool
- It gave the children context before looking at Botticelli’s artwork
- It helped them understand that artists were real people with real lives
- It paired nicely with hands-on activities and picture study
- It was accessible enough for independent reading or read-aloud
Things to Be Aware Of
- Best suited for younger children (roughly ages 6–10)
- Limited depth for older or more advanced students
- Focuses more on storytelling than technical art concepts
Overall Thoughts
If you’re looking for a gentle, engaging introduction to Sandro Botticelli, Meet Sandro Botticelli: Painter of Beauty and Dreams is a wonderful place to start.
It won’t replace a full art study, but it does something just as valuable: it helps children see the artist behind the art.
And in a homeschool setting, that’s often exactly where meaningful learning begins.
How We Approached Our Picture Study: Botticelli’s Map of Hell
1. First Impressions & Artist Study
At the beginning of the week we looked at the picture on the computer and read a bit about Botticelli.
I had the children fill in artist note pages downloaded from Practical Pages. We use them with each art study we have done over the years.
2. Exploring the Details
Afterwards the children explored an interactive version of the picture, zooming in on specific sections.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much detail they remembered of Inferno. Even three months later, they were recalling things that were forever lost in the echelons of my mind.
3. Watching & Comparing
We also watched a YouTube video showing details of the picture alongside Botticelli’s preliminary drawings.
For a much more extensive study, there are excellent resources available, but we neither had the time nor the inclination to go deeper at this stage.
Remember, my aim was simply to help the children see what Dante described.
Picture Study: Botticelli’s Map of Hell – Our Hands-On Activities
As this was a short, one-week study, I only planned two activities, but both tied in beautifully with our upcoming work.
Activity 1: Attempting Silverpoint (Sort Of!)
We tried to reproduce one of Botticelli’s drawings using silverpoint.
The problem? No art shop had even heard of it!
So we improvised:
- Parchment paper covered in homemade gesso (chalk, glue, white paint)
- Embroidery needles as our “silver point”
It didn’t work.
So the children switched to pencil instead.
They chose to sketch one or more of the three beasts from the beginning of Dante’s journey, with some lovely results.
Activity 2: Colouring with a Light Touch
Next, we used colouring pencils to try to recreate Botticelli’s muted tones.
Using either their sketches or printed details from the Map of Hell, the children attempted to layer colour delicately.
It was much harder than expected.
They struggled to use pencils in a lighter, more controlled way, but interestingly, Thomas, 11, really enjoyed it!
Picture Study: Botticelli’s Map of Hell – Additional Hands-On Ideas
If you want to extend this study:
- Create a 3D model of Dante’s Hell (which we will be doing later)
- Compare Botticelli with other artists
- Draw a map of the nine circles
- Write a narration of one circle
- Practise shading techniques
Picture Study: Botticelli’s Map of Hell – Reflection Questions
- What part of the picture stood out most to you?
- How does Botticelli show the structure of Hell?
- Can you find Dante in the image?
- How does this help you understand the poem?
- What feelings does the picture create?
- What would you draw from this scene?
Final Thoughts
This really was a picture study at its simplest, but it did its job well.
The children were drawn into the concept of a pictorial hell and enjoyed both Dante’s imagination and Botticelli’s interpretation.
Most importantly, they were completely primed for the following week, when we would dive deeper into the Inferno and even attempt our own interpretations.
Charlotte, 10, in particular, couldn’t wait!
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