About
What is it like to engage with Dante’s Divine Comedy to the extent of illustrating each of the 100 cantos of the epic poem? What resources are there to draw on? What reception does the resulting work receive? In this conversation with Mark Vernon, together with two short films and slides, Monika Beisner will tell the story of her engagement with Dante’s great work manifest in her magnificent illustrations; a powerful example of a contemporary artist collaborating harmoniously with tradition.
Key information
Who is the lecture for?
All are welcome.
How do I attend?
This event will take place in person at The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG.
What days/times do I attend?
Tuesday, 26 May 2026, 18:30 – 20:00
FAQs
Do you offer concessions?
Yes, we offer concessions for Seniors/60+, full-time students and people who are unemployed/in receipt of benefits.
Concessions cannot be applied in retrospect. To receive a concession, please apply via our online form. We will then send you a discount code to use when booking your space.
Terms & Conditions
The School reserves the right to discontinue or suspend a Lecture up to fourteen (14) calendar days before the advertised start date. This lecture requires a minimum number of enrolments to run.
What if I need to cancel or change my booking?
No refunds or cancellations, unless cancelled by the School.
Our normal terms and conditions apply.
Lecturer Biographies
Monika Beisner
Monika Beisner is a German artist and illustrator based in London. She studied painting in Braunschweig and Berlin. Fellowships enabled her to continue her studies at the Slade School of Art in London and at the New School for Social Research in New York. She has exhibited worldwide and has earned international acclaim for her illustrated editions of children’s books. Her 100 illuminations of Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’ have been published in German, Italian and English editions.
A portfolio of 36 giclée prints based on her paintings for Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’ came out in 2010. Her 29 paintings for The Epic of Gilgamesh have just been published in a German edition: Insel-Bücherei Nr. 2060 as Das Epos von Gilgamesch Nacherzählt (re-told) von Esther Kinsky, mit Bildern (illustrations) von Monika Beisner.
At present she is working on a cycle of paintings: ‘Daphne Variations’.
Mark Vernon
Mark Vernon is a psychotherapist, writer and former Anglican priest. A keen podcaster, not least in over 100 dialogues with Rupert Sheldrake, and a columnist with The Idler, he speaks regularly at festivals and on the BBC. He has a PhD in Philosophy, and degrees in Theology and Physics. His most recent book is “Awake! William Blake and the Power of the Imagination”, and previous book topics include Dante’s Divine Comedy, Owen Barfield and the mystical significance of Jesus and Christianity.
