Arts & Literature
The Divine Michelangelo
500 years ago, Michelangelo created three of the art world’s greatest and most enduring icons: the statue of David, the painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican and the dome of St Peter’s in Rome. This revealing drama documentary traces his development from angry young man to renowned sculptor and creator of incredible paintings. How was one individual capable of producing such work?
Toulouse-Lautrec
The celebrated French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was the creator of some of the most popular paintings in modern art. An aristocrat by birth, he spent much of his career recording the bars, dancehalls and brothels of Paris. Although hugely successful his was a tragic life, scarred by alcoholism and illness. This documentary explores the life and work of this intriguing, influential artist.
Art, Passion and Power: The Story of the Royal Collection
The Royal Collection is the last great art collection acquired by any of the royal families of Europe to have survived into the twenty-first century. Containing over a million art pieces and precious objects, it not only contains work by some of the world’s most famous artists, but it also reveals the personal history, tastes, and obsessions of the British monarchy over the last 500 years.
Face of Britain by Simon Schama
Before we can walk, before we can talk, we become readers of faces. This primal engagement with the face makes portraiture one of the most compelling forms of art. Historian Simon Schama explores the history of British portraiture, revealing the stories behind the most fascinating images in British art and examines the ways portraiture is used to make a statement.
Decoding Turner
JMW Turner is one of Britain’s most notable and revered artists. His magnificent paintings are world famous, but what if they’re not what they seem? This art documentary promises to change the way Turner’s work is interpreted. Art historians, academics and Turner fanatics reveal the startling hidden codes and mystery elements they believe are woven into his romantic paintings.