When I'm writing a story I keep my eye out for inspirational images. These might be source images from research, or completely random things that only make sense to me. Sometimes I make sketches that go with the story, or in a sort of retroactive creative process I will rifle through old sketch books searching for images that remind me of what I am currently writing. All of this material goes on a cork board that sits across from me while I work. The longer the story, the more complex the board. Below are a few of the images that helped me write Dante's Inferno.

Canaletto, The Grand Canal and the Church of the Salute, 1730.

This is the sort of view Serena would have seen out her window, and her paintings would have looked like this as well--Dante mentions that "Pierro Lombardo" is the "new Canaletto." You may also wish to imagine Dante making a public scene among boats like this the morning after his drinking binge.

Boarding a gondola

This came off the cork board, and I don't remember where I found it. I think it might be by Pietro Longhi. But this is an important image, because it shows how Dante and Serena's rather loud gondola ride began. Notice how cabin provides some privacy and the concealing costumes the couple are wearing.

Pietro Longhi, The Charlatan, 1757 (detail)

This shows you a closer view of the black robes and hats that both Dante and Serena wear their first and second nights together. The man is masked, the woman is not. The combination of hat, cloak and mask is called the bautta.