----------------------------Original message----------------------------
From the Blue Guide entitled Rome and environs by Alta Macadam, 5th ed.,
1994, p323: "The fir cone was seen by Dante ('Inferno', XXXI, 53) ...".

>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I was hoping that someone could answer a personal query for me as I have
>had no luck in my own limited researches on this.
>
>The base of the giant bronze pine cone monument (pigna) in one of the
>Vatican courtyards (Cortile della Pigna) has an inscription in Italian
>from Dante (I believe) in which the Vatican pine cone is mentioned.  I
>have been unable to find such a reference in the work of Dante through
>the use of lexicons and concordences, so I am asking if anyone could
>provide me with the full inscription and citation in Italian.
>
>Since this is a major artwork in the Vatican I thought it might be
>mentioned in the various books on the Vatican collections.  I have
>already consulted some of these sources and some other books on Rome,
>but I cannot find any reference to the inscription from Dante (or
>whoever).
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>JOHN J. TRAUSE
>Assistant Librarian, Reference/Periodicals
>
>The Museum of Modern Art Library        Tel. (212) 708-9438
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Diane Scoles
Box 1013
Toledo, Ohio  43697
Tel.:(419)  255-8000, ext. 387
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