John Belardo has work included in a special exhibition in Florence, Italy.  His bronze relief, Dante in the Sphere of Mars and the Ascent to Jupiter, is included in the group show, “Path to Paradise,” at the Palazzo Vecchio. Belardo’s relief draws inspiration from Cantos XVII–XX of Dante’s Paradiso. “It depicts Dante’s ascent to the heaven of Mars, where he meets his ancestor, Cacciaguida, and reflects on the fate of Florence and his own exile,” says Belardo. “From there, guided by Beatrice, he ascends to the sphere of Jupiter, where the Eagle of Justice appears. The work, in resin with a bronze patina, employs a range of relief techniques to evoke the metaphysical dimension of Paradiso, creating a visual dialogue with Ghiberti’s original panels.”  The show runs November 1 – 11, 2025 at the historic Florence town hall.