Art That Made Us episode 4: A splintering of politics and religion in the British Isles under the Stuart kings leads to more questioning art, new science and architecture. Architect Amanda Levete climbs the Tulip Stairs in the Queen’s House, Greenwich, and reassesses Inigo Jones’ elegant and innovative design, while portrait artist Tai Shan Schierenberg encounters Van Dyck’s monumental portrait …
Art That Made Us episode 3: In the 16th century, the British Isles experienced a religious revolution, as the kingdoms of England and then Scotland turned Protestant. Artists and experts today reveal how, during the reign of Elizabeth I, Protestants and Catholics used art, language and new technology to wage a battle for power in the Isles, creating surprising and …
Art That Made Us episode 2: An alternative history of the Black Death of the Middle Ages and its bitter – but profoundly creative – aftermath. Contemporary artists and performers, alongside historians and curators, reveal how a century of creative renewal emerged from the chaos of plague as survivors found their voice, questioning authority and challenging status and class. Above …
Art That Made Us episode 1: This episode immerses us in the turbulent era that followed the Roman occupation of Britain. Once known as the ‘dark’ ages, in reality it’s a time of glittering art and extraordinary cultural fusions. This alternative history of the British Isles, told through art, brings together encounters between contemporary artists and ancient art, and interviews …
The Allure of Art Nouveau episode 3 – Vienna: Stephen Smith explores how Vienna’s artists rebelled against the establishment in the late 19th century and brought their own highly sexed version of art nouveau to the city. In a story that combines scandal and revolution, cultural correspondent Stephen Smith explores how Vienna’s artists rebelled against the establishment in …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …