La capilla de la Arena, Enrico Scrovegni y Dante

Enrico Scrovegni era hijo de Reginaldo Scrovegni, un conocido usurero.  En el Canto XVII de la Divina Comedia, Giotto lo coloca en el sépitmo círculo del infierno, junto con otros usureros. Aunque no utiliza su nombre, describe unas bolsas de dinero que lleva cada usurero al cuello y en ellas está el escudo de cada uno (que es como un marca registrada, fácilmente reconocible. 

So I went on alone and even farther (43)

Along the seventh circle’s outer margin,

To where the melancholy people sat.

Despondency was bursting from their eyes; (46)

This side, then that, their hands kept fending off,

At times the flames, at times the burning soil:

Not otherwise do dogs in summer-now (49)

With muzzle, now with paw-when they are bitten

By fleas or gnats or by the sharp gadfly.

When I had set my eyes upon the faces (52)

Of some on who the painful fire falls,

I recognized no one; but I did notice

That from the neck of each a purse was hung (55)

That had a special color or an emblem,

And their eyes seemed to feast upon these pouches.

Looking about-when I had come among them- (58)

I saw a yellow purse with azure on it

That had the face and manner of a lion.

Then, as I let my eyes move further on, (61)

I saw another purse that was bloodred,

And it displayed a goose more white than butter.

And one who had an azure, pregnant sow (This person is Reginaldo, because a sow azure on a field argent is the coat of arms of the Scrovegni family.)

Inscribed as emblem on his white pouch, said

To me: “What are you doing in this pit?

Now be off; and since you’re still alive, (67)

Remember that my neighbor Vitaliano

Shall yet sit here, upon my left hand side.

Among these Florentines, I’m Paduan; (70)

I often hear them thunder in my ears,

Shouting, ‘Now let the sovereign cavalier,

The one who’ll bring the purse with three goats, come!’” (73)

At this he slewed his mouth, and then he stuck

His tongue out, like an ox that licks his nose.