Watch 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.

Watch Simon Schama's Power of Art and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.

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Wonderland: Lewis Carroll to JRR Tolkien

Wonderland: Lewis Carroll to JRR Tolkien

Why were so many enduring classic children’s books written in the same 60-year period?

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The Art Of Japanese Life

The mysterious and remarkable art and culture of Japan is explored and explained.

Antiques Roadshow

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Nature And Us: A History Through Art

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Rembrandt

Did scandal and torment drive the artist to even greater creative glories?

The Art of Gothic

Why were Brits in the 19th-century obsessed with art that was horrific, macabre and weird?

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Gauguin: The Full Story

Why was the life of influential artist Paul Gauguin mired in controversy and conflict?

Stream The Body Beautiful: Ancient Greeks, Good Looks and Glamour on BBC Select

The Body Beautiful: Ancient Greeks, Good Looks and Glamour

Why were the Ancient Greeks so preoccupied with images concerning the naked human form?

Stream Confucius on BBC Select

Confucius

The remarkable story of a great thinker who helped to form a nation and shape the world.

Watch Van Gogh: Painted with Words on BBC Select

Van Gogh: Painted with Words

Powerful docudrama exploring the work and passions of Vincent Van Gogh

Watch The Genius of Carl Faberge on BBC Select

The Genius of Carl Faberge

Would you spend $100 million on eggs? You might if they were Faberge.

Watch The High Art of the Low Countries on BBC Select

The High Art of the Low Countries

Size doesn’t matter. How one small region spawned the greatest artists of all time.

Watch The Art of Spain on BBC Select

The Art of Spain

Territory, politics and religious conflict: the untold history of Spain’s cultural legacy.

Watch Simon Schama's Shakespeare and Us on BBC Select

Simon Schama's Shakespeare and Us

A Bard’s tale. How Shakespeare united the intellectual and populist like no one else.

Stream the Art of Scandinavia on BBC Select

Art of Scandinavia

Scandi noir? Does Scandinavian art deserve its dark reputation?

Watch Art of China on BBC Select

Art of China

Historian Andrew Graham-Dixon marvels at a millennia of Chinese art

Watch The Art of France on BBC Select

Art of France

A stunning journey through the history of French art

Stream War Art with Eddie Redmayne on BBC Select

War Art with Eddie Redmayne

Academy Award winning actor Eddie Redmayne discovers the artists who saved lives during WW1

Watch Write Around the World on BBC Select

Write Around the World

Revisit your favourite reads with Academy Award nominee Richard E. Grant

Watch Harry Potter - A History of Magic on BBC Select

Harry Potter - A History of Magic

They’re the fastest-selling books in history. But what inspired the enchanting world of Harry Potter?

Stream The World's Greatest Painitings with Andrew Marr

The World's Greatest Paintings

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Stream The Impressionists on BBC Select

The Impressionists

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Stream Vincent Van Gogh - The Full Story on BBC Select

Vincent: The Full Story

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The Art Mysteries

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The Story of Women and Art

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The Romantic Revolution

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Stream Grayson Perry - Art Club on BBC Select

Grayson Perry's Art Club

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Shock of The Nude

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