Video documentaries about all art forms
The Allure of Art Nouveau episode 2 – British Cities: Britain’s art nouveau heritage is excavated as cultural correspondent Stephen Smith unearths the bright. Stephen Smith explores Britain’s art nouveau heritage, from the controversial life of Aubrey Beardsley to the work of Mary Watts and the influence of Arthur Liberty. On a mission to uncover lesser-known stars of […]
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The Allure of Art Nouveau episode 1 – Paris: The delicious objects of Parisian Art Nouveau are explored by cultural correspondent Stephen Smith. Stephen Smith explores the objects of Parisian Art Nouveau and learns how some of the 19th century’s most glamorous, controversial figures inspired an extraordinary movement. Uncovering how the luscious decorative style first erupted into the
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Metalworks episode 3 – The Blacksmith’s Tale: In a story where progress meets creative invention, this film looks at how the blacksmith created items in wrought and cast iron that both served and embellished society. From the earliest ornate hinges and doors to magnificent baroque gates and mass-produced street furniture, it reveals the mastery of metalworkers such as Jean Tijou,
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Metalworks episode 2 – The Knight’s Tale: Art historian and curator Tobias Capwell celebrates the great age of armour. Referencing the unstoppable rise of the Royal Almain Armoury at Greenwich, he tells the forgotten story of how Henry VIII fused German high technology with Renaissance artistry in the pursuit of one aim – to become the very image of the
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Metalworks episode 1 – The Golden Age of Silver: Dan Cruickshank visits Britain’s finest country houses, museums and factories as he uncovers the 18th- and 19th-century fascination with silver. Delving into an unsurpassed era of shimmering opulence, heady indulgence and conspicuous consumption, Dan discovers the Georgian and Victorian obsession with this tantalising precious metal which represented status, wealth and excellent
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Mary Beard’s Forbidden Art episode 2: Mary unpacks the complex subject of art and ideology, considering a range of very different works that have challenged the political and social status quo, expressing opinions and attitudes that many have wanted to silence – and even erase. She examines artwork ranging from the etchings of Otto Dix, banned by the
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Civilisation episode 6 – Protest and Communication: Kenneth Clark investigates the Protestant Reformation in northern Europe. He looks at Holbein, Thomas Moore, Erasmus, the printing press and Durer. Kenneth Clark’s classic 1969 series tracing the history of Western art and philosophy. Civilisation episode 6 – Protest and Communication Albrecht Dürer sometimes spelt in English as Durer
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Mary Beard’s Forbidden Art episode 1: Classicist and broadcaster Professor Mary Beard explores a broad range of thought-provoking and sometimes controversial works of art that tackle unsettling subjects – works that have been fought over, removed from view or simply ‘forbidden’. She delves into the questions of what, why and how art gets forbidden, who gets to decide and how
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Andy Warhol’s America episode 3: The final episode sees a much more cautious Warhol: a man obsessed with money and security as he reflects on the upper echelons of American society, drag queens and racism. Documentary looking at the history of 20th-century America through the life and career of Andy Warhol. This three-part series, richly supplemented with archive
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Andy Warhol’s America episode 2: Charting Andy Warhol’s response to major events in the Sixties and how he faced his own nightmare when he was shot by an associate. Documentary looking at the history of 20th-century America through the life and career of Andy Warhol. This three-part series, richly supplemented with archive footage and talking heads, starts by
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Andy Warhol’s America episode 1: Documentary looking at the history of 20th-century America through the life and career of Andy Warhol. Episode one examines the artist’s childhood in Pittsburgh and his rise from poverty to wealth and fame in New York City in the 1950s. Warhol establishes his name by making everyday foodstuff the subject of his work, and in
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Quentin Blake – The Drawing of My Life: The illustrator and author paints scenes from a 70-year-long career, including his work with Roald Dahl. With David Walliams, Joanna Lumley, Peter Capaldi, Ore Oduba and Michael Rosen. In this celebration of one of Britain’s best-loved artists, the illustrator and author Sir Quentin Blake tells the story of his 70-year-long
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