Arts & Literature
Art of France
It’s a nation famous for passion, rebellion and beauty. So it’s no surprise that art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon’s three-part documentary about the history of French art is as visually stunning as it is dramatic. This BBC French art history documentary tells a story of blood (King Louis XIV’s), guts (the idealists who overthrew the old rules to define a new revolution in art) and resistance – from the Romantics through to the Impressionists and beyond.
Write Around the World
Set sail on a fabulous literary voyage with BBC Select, as actor and Oscar nominee Richard E Grant guides you through this sumptuous arts documentary. Book lover Richard traverses France, Spain and Italy, following in the footsteps of authors whose work was inspired by the locations’ culture and history. Can he discover the secrets of literary greats like Dickens, Hemingway and F Scott Fitzgerald?
Harry Potter - A History of Magic
From shrieking mandrakes, to sorting hats, to the mystery of ancient Chinese oracle bones, what inspired the world of Harry Potter? Author JK Rowling invites us into her private archive to reveal a trove of delights never before seen by muggles’ eyes.
The World's Greatest Paintings
The stories behind some of the most famous works of art ever devised. Why were these pieces created and what makes them so eternally fascinating? How much did the lives of the artists, and the society and environment they worked in, influence the paintings? Get ready to see truly iconic images in a whole new light with this fascinating art history documentary with Andrew Marr.
Simon Schama's Power of Art
Art is so much more than pretty pictures. It has the power to move, shock, inform and transform.
In this groundbreaking and award-winning BBC miniseries, art historian Simon Schama attempts to illustrate the sheer force of the visual image via eight iconic masterpieces. These works were often derided or dismissed when first created, but they went on to change the way we look at the world.