Belacqua

Profile

Belacqua is a Florentine citizen, a maker of lutes and guitars, with whom Dante was very familiar. Ancient sources report that he was the laziest man who ever lived, so much so that he would remain seated in his workshop from morning until the time to go and eat dinner and sleep. A nickname is attested for the name Duccio di Bonavia, resident in the quarter of San Procolo, therefore near the Alighieri houses in San Martino, still alive in 1298 and recorded as already dead by 1302. In the Florentine archives the identification with the Dantean character appears very probable. The encounter with Dante takes place in Ante-Purgatory, where Belacqua sits with other negligent souls, who must wait outside the gate for as long as their life lasted, before the angel of God permits them to enter the purifying pains. The dialogue between the two Florentines takes place as a delicate exchange of quips and repartees, in which Belacqua replies to Dante's remark and states that he can do nothing other than wait.