DANTE’S DIVINE COMEDY: OTHERWORLD IMAGES FROM HIS POEM                                                         

Often considered a daunting read, the Divine Comedy can also, and more approachably, be studied through its illustrations. Dante’s visions of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven have provided a rich stream of inspiration for over 700 years. With this talk we look at a selection of the many artists who have attempted to portray the otherworldly. Botticelli, Doré and Blake attempted all three realms, but many others have dipped in and out of the story, each imprinting his own century and beliefs on the finished art. 

PATSY ERSKINE-HILL was brought up in Italy, France and Switzerland. She holds a first class degree in Italian from Trinity College, Dublin and a Masters degree in Imperial Russian history from Edinburgh University. Patsy ran her own business for many years, finishing with a 5 year contract teaching at a US university. Now back in the UK, she lectures widely to history societies, university groups, special interest associations and on cruises. Her interests are the society, art and architecture of Imperial Russia, Italian history, art and culture and the English eighteenth century.