Scholars from Australia and overseas gathered recently in Melbourne to take part in a Dante conference organized by the Italian department at the University of Melbourne. The convenor was Professor Tom O'Neill, Chairman of the Department. Whilst the majority of papers focused on aspects of Dante's Comedy, the range and variety of approaches promoted stimulating discussion and lively exchanges. A highlight of the conference was the participation of Dr. Peter Armour (University College, London), a Visiting Scholar in the Department and a prominent dantista.

Immediately following Professor O'Neill's welcoming remarks, the first session was devoted to a paper by Professor Vincent Moleta (Western Australia), "Voi Ie vedete Amor pinto nel viso: prehistory of a metaphor". Professor Moleta examined the supposed source of line 55 of the canzone Donne ch'avete intelletto d'amore in the Vita Nuova, as a first step in the reconstruction of Dante's absorption of a vernacular tradition, from the earliest assimilation of the metaphor in Giacomo da Lentini's verse to Dante's transmutation of it in his reconciliation of earthly and divine love.