Great Art
The life and work of the world's most celebrated artists. Each episode reveals unique insights into the life of the artists, from exploring the places they lived and worked to uncovering their formative relationships through private letters. Great Art will also provide privileged access to the artists' masterpieces, going behind-the-scenes at the world's leading museums.
Seasons
1. Canaletto & the Art of Venice at the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Air Date: 2018-01-04
The series opens with an episode dedicated to The Royal Collection Trust's unparalleled collection of works by Venice's famous view-painter Canaletto. Stepping inside the royal residences of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, it reveals how the world's largest Canaletto collection made its home in Britain. The episode also captures the essence and allure of Venice, embarking on a 21st century Grand Tour to reveal how Canaletto's art was influenced by the great Italian city.
2. The Impressionists and the Man Who Made Them
Air Date: 2018-01-11
Monet, Cézanne, Degas, Renoir: some of the world's most popular artists. Their works, and that of their contemporaries, fetch tens of millions of dollars around the globe. But who were they really? Why & how exactly did they paint? What lies behind their enduring appeal?
3. Michelangelo: Love and Death
Air Date: 2018-01-18
The spectacular sculptures and paintings of Michelangelo seem so familiar to us, but what do we really know about this Renaissance genius? Who was this ambitious and passionate man? A giant artistic force and universally loved, the film illustrates why Michelangelo is without a doubt one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance – and perhaps of all time.
4. Rembrandt from the National Gallery and Rijksmuseum
Air Date: 2018-01-25
Every Rembrandt exhibition is eagerly anticipated, but a once-in-a-lifetime show at London's National Gallery and Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum that took 15 years to prepare was remarkable. With exclusive and privileged access to both galleries, this film documents this landmark exhibition while interweaving Rembrandt's life story with behind-the-scenes preparations at these world-famous institutions. Rembrandt is the greatest artist that ever lived to many, and this film seeks to explore the truth.
5. Girl with a Pearl Earring and Other Treasures from The Mauritshuis
Air Date: 2018-02-01
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer is one of the most enduring paintings in the history of art.Even today, a recent world tour of the painting provoked huge queues lining up for the briefest glimpse of its majestic beauty – in Japan 1.2 million people came to see the exhibition.Yet the painting itself is surrounded by mystery.This film seeks to investigate the many unanswered questions associated with this mysterious artwork.Who was this girl? Why and how was it painted? Why is it so revered?
1. David Hockney at The Royal Academy of Arts
Air Date: 2018-05-10
Widely considered Britain's most popular artist, David Hockney is a global sensation with exhibitions in London, New York, Paris and beyond, attracting millions of visitors worldwide. Now entering his ninth decade Hockney shows absolutely no evidence of slowing down or losing his trademark boldness.Featuring intimate and in-depth interviews with Hockney himself, this revealing documentary captures the voice of the artist. Spread out over five years, focusing on two blockbuster exhibitions held in 2012 and 2016 at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, this award-winning documentary demonstrates the creativity and output of a prolific artist who never shies from engaging with modern technologies showing that even art on an iPad can be simply fantastic in the hands of a great artist. It's the unpredictability of Hockney that contributes to his uniqueness. Director Phil Grabsky secured privileged access to craft this cinematic celebration of a 21st- century master of creativity.
2. Vincent Van Gogh: A New Way of Seeing
Air Date: 2018-05-17
Vincent van Gogh's life has long captured the imagination, shrouded in myth and misunderstanding, but who was he really? Delving deep into his fascinating and sometimes deeply troubled world comes this definitive, award-winning documentary directed by David Bickerstaff. Vincent van Gogh: A New Way of Seeing seeks the truth about Van Gogh. What better way to discover the real Van Gogh than through his art? Showcasing his iconic works and featuring extensive access to Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum – along with illuminating letters that capture his most revealing and moving moments – this remarkable documentary brings to life arguably the world's favourite artist and reminds us, in Van Gogh's own words, that ‘Art is long and life is short'.*Just who really was Vincent van Gogh? David Bickerstaff's award-winning documentary delves deep into his fascinating and troubled world. Featuring exclusive access to the Van Gogh Museum, the film brings to life the world's favourite artist.
3. The Curious World of Hieronymus Bosch
Air Date: 2018-05-24
After 500 years Bosch's paintings still fascinate us but what inspired these strange and fantastical paintings? Featuring an extraordinary popular exhibition which brought almost all of Bosch's work together for the first and last time, this film offers some answers.
4. Edouard Manet at The Royal Academy of Arts
Air Date: 2018-05-31
Tim Marlow explores the sold-out exhibition at The Royal Academy of Arts, depicting the craft of one of the all-time great artists, the 'father of modern art', Edouard Manet.
5. American Impressionism
Air Date: 2018-06-07
Gillian Anderson narrates the story of how American artists, inspired by Renoir and Monet, created an artistic movement which lasted for over 40 years.
1. Pablo Picasso
Air Date: 2019-05-02
Pablo Picasso is one of the greatest artists of all time. But where did this all begin? This documentary focuses on his rise to great heights.
2. Goya - Visions of Flesh and Blood
Air Date: 2019-05-09
Discover Spain's celebrated artist with this cinematic tour de force based on the National Gallery's blockbuster exhibition Goya: The Portraits.
3. Edvard Munch
Air Date: 2019-05-16
This film goes behind the scenes to show the process of putting together the exhibition honouring the 150th anniversary of the birth of Edvard Munch.
4. Painting the Modern Garden - Monet to Matisse
Air Date: 2019-05-23
This film discovers how different contemporaries of Monet built and cultivated modern gardens to explore expressive motifs.
5. Cezanne - Portraits of a Life
Air Date: 2019-05-30
Described by Picasso and Matisse as 'the father of us all', Cezanne is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. This film reveals the true man.
1. Van Gogh & Japan
Air Date: 2020-11-10
In this little-known story of Van Gogh's art we see just how important his study of Japan was. The film travels not only to France and the Netherlands but also to Japan to further explore the remarkable heritage that so affected Van Gogh and made him the artist we know of today.
2. I. Claude Monet
Air Date: 2020-11-17
Monet's life is a gripping tale about a man who, behind his sun-dazzled canvases, suffered from feelings of depression and loneliness. However, as his art developed and his love of gardening led to the glories of his Giverny garden, his humour, insight and love of life are revealed. Told through Monet's own words and shot on location at the very spots he painted, the film features his most loved paintings in an unforgettable, immersive art experience.
3. Vermeer and Music from the National Gallery
Air Date: 2020-11-24
The National Gallery, London, offered a fresh look at one of the most startling and fascinating artists of all – Johannes Vermeer. The National Gallery chose to focus on Vermeer's relationship with music. It is one of the most popular themes of Dutch painting and reveals an enormous amount about the sitter and the society they lived in. New research, revealed for the first time at this exhibition, showed how his technique and materials affected Vermeer's works. Tim Marlow goes beyond the exhibition to tell the entire story of Vermeer's life and, in doing so, shows in detail many other of the artist's captivating works. For those inspired by the 2003 film, Girl with a Pearl Earring, starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson, this new, cinematic exploration will take their enjoyment and fascination of Vermeer's life and work to a new level.
4. Matisse from Tate Modern & MoMA
Air Date: 2020-12-01
Tim Marlow goes behind the scenes at Tate Modern's Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs, one of the most successful exhibitions in the museum's history. Featuring contributions from Tate director Nicholas Serota and MoMA director Glenn D Lowry, as well as curators, historians and people who knew the artist personally.
5. Renoir: Revered and Reviled. Series
Air Date: 2020-12-08
Tim Marlow explores the extreme positive and negative reactions to Renoir's changing style, examining some of the 181 paintings held at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. The film reveals how his new direction was an influence on Picasso and Matisse, making it a vital turning point in the development of art between the 19th and 20th centuries.
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Rating
0.0/10
Release Date
2018-01-04
Episodes
20 (4 seasons)
Status
Returning Series
