Francisco Goya, considered the founder of modern art, is Spain's most acclaimed artist. As well as a gifted observer of Spanish life and its turbulent past, he is a gifted portraitist and social commentator. With Goya, the art of portraiture reached new heights. This major exhibition at London's National Gallery brings his genius back into the spotlight. Through a formidable collection of unique works and letters by Goya, we analyze the man himself and the world he painted.
In 1897, Sir Henry Tate, an industrialist and art collector, offered his private art collection to the British nation and financed the construction of the Tate Gallery to house it. Renamed Tate Britain in 2000, the gallery is dedicated to British art. There are masterpieces by the most prestigious of British artists, such as William Blake’s Newton, John William Waterhouse’s The Lady of Shallot and Henry Wallace’s Chatterton. Enjoy your visit!
Rembrandt is widely considered to be the greatest Dutch painter of the 17th century. A master in the use of light, particularly the chiaroscuro technique, as well as an exceptionally talented draftsman, Rembrandt’s work was considerably influenced by the dramatic events of his life (the death of his wife, financial bankruptcy, etc.). You will discover in this exhibition some of his most famous paintings exposed at the Louvre, such as “Bathsheba at her Bath”, also exposed at Mauritshuis with “The Anatomy Lecture” or his famous self-portraits. Enjoy your visit!
Raphael Federici (street artist), Marine Goodmorning (illustrator), Luca Fiore (cartoonist) and Harry Boudchicha (drawing teacher) reveal their best drawing techniques. Each episode focuses on a specific subject: movement, oil painting, shadows, hair... For the first 10 minutes, each artist gives a theoretical lesson illustrated by sketches. Then they each start working on their creation. Finally, they end with a debrief, comparing and explaining their techniques
In 64 episodes, fun and educational, you will know how to draw an airplane, a fireman, a haunted mansion, a soccer player, a sunset, a lion, the Eiffel Tower, seashells, a fairy... Our master draftsman Gia-Haï Phan will show you the basics of a successful drawing: proportions, perspectives, values, contrasts, volumes, blending, everything is covered.
The Paris Fine Arts School is one of the oldest and most prestigious art schools. Félix Duban (1797-1870) became its architect in the wake of the 1830 revolution. He would transform this high place of creativity into a veritable palette of architectures. From the Porticus of Octavia in Rome to the Florentine palaces, from the loggias of the Vatican to the polychrome frescoes of Pompeii, everything here is a citation, a souvenir - of Duban's study trip to Italy, for example - but also an ode to the past that remains exemplary for the students. Everything is created to educate the eye of these future artists. Duban thus organizes the general composition of the space around authentic fragments of monuments of the French Renaissance, harmoniously cohabiting different traditions and styles. It is a romantic vision of architecture - in rebellion against the academicism of the time -, a tribute to art as a whole whose perenniality is explained by its very diversity. Archives, models: a fasci
Narrated by Gillian Anderson, this episode of Exhibition on Screen follows the footsteps of French artists such as Renoir and Monet, the American Impressionist movement forged its own path. Painted over a period of 40 years, these paintings reveal the United States both as a nation and as a creative breeding ground. The history of this movement is closely linked to the love of gardens and the desire to preserve nature in a country undergoing rapid urbanization. This enchanting journey through workshops, gardens and famous sites in the USA, UK and France is a feast for the eyes.
Based on a major exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Tokyo Stories spans 400 years of incredibly rich art, from Hokusai’s prints to Pop Art posters, via contemporary photography, manga, cinema and street art. The exhibition was a huge success and attracted a significantly younger and more diverse audience than usual. The film draws on the exhibition to take us to Tokyo and explore the city’s art and artistic figures in greater depth. A superbly illustrated and richly detailed documentary, which traces the journey of a metropolis marked by ceaseless cycles of destruction and rebirth throughout its 400-year history, to become one of the most dynamic and fascinating cities in the world today.
Every Rembrandt exhibition is eagerly awaited, but this exhibition organized by London's National Gallery and Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum was an unprecedented event. The documentary highlights the historic Rembrandt exhibition, while tracing his life. Rembrandt is one of the greatest artists who ever lived, and this deeply moving documentary seeks to explore the truth about the man behind the legend.
Eugène Delacroix is considered as the leader of French Romanticism, a simultaneously passionate, dramatic and tormented artistic movement, which emerged at the beginning of the 19th century. However, more than a movement, it is a whole creative and captivating artistic development, which is on offer here, through the study of 10 of the artist’s major works. He was to have a notable influence on all modern artistic movements, which after him, were to explore the power of colour and light. Discover " Liberty leading the people " or " The death of Sardanapalus " exposed at the Louvre. Enjoy your visit!
Leader of the School of Pont-Aven, Paul Gauguin, the most exotic of French artists, paved the way for modern painting. There were two main themes which marked his work: Brittany and Tahiti. A rebel, he rejected copying reality in favour of exploring more delicate painting techniques. You will discover here the most important milestones in his work: from “Four Breton Girls” to “Tahitian Women on the Beach”, by way of the surprising “Self Portrait with Yellow Christ”. Enjoy your visit!
Graffiti World is a short program dedicated to contemporary urban art around the world. Each episode explores a specific city, highlighting iconic works of street art. Local soundscape accompanies the images for an authentic, commentary-free immersion. The program showcases the creativity and diversity of artistic expression in public spaces. An invitation to discover the richness of graffiti as an art form in its own right.
Comedy legend Jennifer Saunders and best pal, top actress Patricia Potter take to the road on a humdinger of a trip. Joined by veteran antiquers Phillip Serrell and Mark Stacey they shop in Berkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire before heading for an auction in Greenwich, London. Jennifer and Phil detour to hear about Fred Karno, the man credited with inventing slapstick comedy. While Patricia and Mark learn how a surgeon from Reading used his incredible sense of smell to successfully treat soldiers injured in World War One. And, Phil gets custard pied – what’s not to love?
Who was Frida Kahlo? Journey into the life of a true icon, discover her art and the truth behind her often turbulent life. The combination of interviews, commentary and a detailed exploration of Kahlo's art offers a treasure trove of color and a feast of vitality. This intimate, personal documentary provides privileged access to her works, and sheds light on her feverish creativity, resilience and unparalleled thirst for life.
It was painted almost 600 years ago; the "Madonna at the Fountain" by Jan Van Eyck. Despite being a Charlotte’s favorite, she is reaching the limits of her ability. The minute details, the special use of oil paint and the slow-drying pigments play tricks on her. While the team is researching Van Eyck's complex oil painting technique, they are also travelling to Rome. In search for the deep blue ultramarine, in The Vatican they see the impact that Van Eyck had on his Italian contemporaries and lights a candle for Charlotte in the Santa Maria Maggiore.
Römer and Römer, a couple of painters, have decided to settle in Berlin. They share their passion for the world around them and for the perpetual staging of social life. Römer and Römer, enchanters of reality, transmit the singularity of their view on the moments of encounters and celebrations of our lives.
His white man is a symbol of Street Art in France. Jerome Mesnager was one of the spearheads of the emergence of this movement in the 1980s, in the wake of Ernest Pignon-Ernest and Gérard Zlotykamien. In France and around the world, the artist has multiplied his white man as a message.
David Hockney, generally considered one of Britain's most popular artists, has enjoyed worldwide success throughout his life, with exhibitions in London, New York, Paris and elsewhere attracting millions of visitors. This film reveals intimate, previously unseen interviews and focuses on two successful exhibitions that took place in 2012 and 2016 at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
In 2013, Norway celebrated the 150th anniversary of the birth of Edvard Munch (1863-1944), one of the most prominent figures in modern art. Munch 150, co-produced by the National Museum and the Munch Museum, is already being hailed as "the exhibition of a lifetime". Public interest is enormous, as evidenced by the record-breaking $120 million public auction result for one of his four paintings, The Scream. This presentation will take you behind the scenes of how this exhibition came to be, as well as including a guided tour of Norway, outlining the biography of this man whose life spanned the mid-19th century to the German occupation during the Second World War.
Graffiti World is a short program dedicated to contemporary urban art around the world. Each episode explores a specific city, highlighting iconic works of street art. Local soundscape accompanies the images for an authentic, commentary-free immersion. The program showcases the creativity and diversity of artistic expression in public spaces. An invitation to discover the richness of graffiti as an art form in its own right.
In this episode, we will meet Denis Rouvre, photographer. He went to photography school but was predestined to be an engineer. He started with reportage, quickly moved on to portraits, and thanks to a French newspaper, he was able to train through press commissions. For the past fifteen years, he has taken a more personal approach to his work, focusing on the individual.
Two luvvies from the world of stage and TV, Ruth Madoc and Su Pollard, best known for their appearances in sitcom Hi-De-Hi, are antique hunting with Phil Serrell and Raj Bisram. Setting off from the Welsh border town of Monmouth they head for auction in Congleton, Cheshire. Ruth also gets to find out about the incredible 19th century nurse – and it’s not Florence Nightingale – whilst Su visits ancient Roman town Caerleon and finds time for an amphitheatre showdown with Phil. And Su attempts to resolve an age old mystery...does Phil wear a wig?
Two stars of the seventies, cool crooner Tony Christie and pop royalty Jimmy Osmond are accompanied by experts Catherine Southon and Margie Cooper. Blasting off from the Leicestershire town of Loughborough they’ll head for an auction in the Staffordshire city of Stoke-on-Trent. Tony squeezes in a visit to Coalbrookdale, the place where ground breaking techniques were developed that kick-started the industrial revolution. And petrol-head Jimmy gets to whizz round the historical race circuit at Donington. The big auction finale includes a sing-a-long like no other. But which musical maestro will clinch victory?
Monet is the founder of Impressionism; the art form that focuses on experiencing the moment, modern life and painting in the open air. This painting, made during one of his many stays in the Netherlands, is an important part in completing his impressionist quest. Charlotte, like Monet, takes to the canals to paint. The team visits Monet's old home and studio in Giverny, France, and returns with useful material for the reconstruction.
During the 20th century, the fame of the ‘Mona Lisa’ spread, establishing itself as the most iconic and recognisable painting of all time. It has been exploited in every sphere of culture and advertising, to the extent that its status as a pop icon has almost overshadowed its artistic value and historical significance. But if we consider Leonardo’s achievements as a pioneering craftsman and the unprecedented qualities of this work, the ‘Mona Lisa’ truly marked a turning point in portraiture. A masterpiece that set new standards in its day and which, five hundred years later, has become the very symbol of art.
The story of “The Calling of Saint Matthew” begins on a hot summer day in Rome in 1600, the Jubilee Year. The entire Eternal City is a construction site: streets are full of scaffolding, dust clouds, loose cobblestones, the continuous banging of hammers and rasping of saws, carpenters with Lombard accents, errand boys shouting across the streets in Roman dialect, stevedores unloading barrels and crates from boats along the Tiber. The narrow streets in the town center are full of jostling tourists and monsignors rushing to get somewhere, and every once in a while the crowd parts to let a sedan chair or carriage of a cardinal through. Convent bells ring, droves of pilgrims mass along the routes connecting the old basilicas, reciting the rosary as they go. Not a day goes by without the opening of a new church, an oratory, or a chapel. Fascinated by this hubbub, dozens of artists from every nation roam the classical ruins and new palaces in the heat and dust (!) drawing everything they see
A remarkable event occurred at London’s National Gallery when the largest ever collection of Leonardo’s surviving paintings was assembled in a unique exhibition: Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan. Leonardo is recognised as perhaps the greatest painter and sculptor of all time but there was no end to his talents. This film tells his life story and expands on Leonardo the visionary and inventor from the place where he lived out his final years at Château du Clos Lucé in France, concluding that Leonardo da Vinci was perhaps the very embodiment of the spirit of the Renaissance.
Passionate about horticulture, Monet remains the undisputed master of garden painting in the history of art, but he was not alone. Artists such as Van Gogh, Bonnard, Picasso and Matisse used the garden as a strong theme in their work. These great artists, along with many other famous names, are brought together in an innovative exhibition from the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Royal Gallery of Arts in London. From the exhibition itself to the beauty of artists' gardens such as Monet's at Giverny, we take a journey to discover how the modern garden was used to explore radical and wondrous new ideas.
In the 16th century, Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the Pope’s nephew, built a villa specifically to house his private art collection, one of the greatest of its time. Bought by the Italian government in 1902, this wonderfully rich collection brings together masterpieces signed by the greatest of artists. You will find one of the copies of Leda and the Swan by da Vinci as well as Caravaggio’s David. Enjoy your visit!
A native of the southern French town of Grasse, Jean-Honoré Fragonard is one of the most important 18th century French painters. He studied at the French Academy in Rome but chose to be free in his work, preferring to carry out private commissions, some of which were licentious, such as “The Shirt Withdrawn” exposed at the Louvre. The “Fanciful Figure” exposed at the Louvre-Lens demonstrates an original and very modern style. One of his masterpieces is without doubt the painting “The Bolt”, in the collection of the Louvre in Paris. Enjoy your visit!
The pyramid of Djoser, the oldest Egyptian pyramid - 2,600 BC - undoubtedly reveals the very first steps of what we call architecture, as a learned practice, distinct from simple construction. The place where this break takes place is a funerary monument, where symbolic function takes precedence over simple use. From the outset, architecture asserted itself not as a function but as a sign. Thirty kilometers south of Cairo, east of the Nile valley, Saqqarah was the necropolis of Memphis, the first capital of ancient Egypt, of which nothing remains except this immense cemetery dominated by the sixty-meter-high Step Pyramid of Djoser.
She was born in 1935 in a small village in the north of France, in Quiévy, and moved permanently to Paris in the 1960s. Working since 1972 in her studio in the 15th arrondissement, Geneviève Claisse has become one of the leading exponents of geometric abstraction in France.
Lionel Estève has been living in the Molenbeek district of Brussels for nearly 20 years. It is here that he has set up his studio, an ideal space to practice his art, as well as to highlight the cheerfulness of the colors he uses and the softness of nature that he transmits in his work.
Two favourite Blue Peter presenters Sarah Greene and Peter Duncan are in the company of Natasha Raskin and Catherine Southon as they hunt for antiques around Surrey, Hertfordshire and North West London. Peter detours to learn how hockey became a popular sport the world over while keen aviator Sarah sees how the Battle of Britain was won. An incredible haul of antiques, including chimney pots, Pinocchio and a pair of African fertility figures, go under the gavel at an auction in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.
In this episode, the two candidates of the day, Thibaud Poirier and Antoine Guillou, will have one hour to realize their photo session. They will have to take the best possible photos on the imposed theme of architecture in the 12th district of Paris, and then they will have 30 minutes to edit their photos.
Römer and Römer, a couple of painters, have decided to settle in Berlin. They share their passion for the world around them and for the perpetual staging of social life. Römer and Römer, enchanters of reality, transmit the singularity of their view on the moments of encounters and celebrations of our lives.
Take an hour break to discover the work of a Italien painter, Leonardo da Vinci. You will discover his labour with the Joconde, Salvator Mundi, The Cène.
Take an hour break to discover the work of a Netherlands painter, Rembrandt. You will discover his labour with The night round, the return of the prodigal son, Danaé.
