"Art That Made Us" delivers a fresh perspective on British history. Narrated by David Threlfall, this eight-part series takes viewers on a 1,500-year journey across eight turning points, using iconic artworks to tell an alternative story of a nation.

Prominent artists and cultural historians examine literature, architecture, sculpture, and painting that emerged during times of crisis and change. The series documents the Roman withdrawal and explores how art responded to subsequent invasions. Its timeline progresses through the Black Death's impact on creativity, the theological strife of the Reformation, and the Civil War. It delves into the Georgian Era, the Industrial Revolution, World Wars across Europe, and the cultural revolution of the 1960s.

From the Romans to the Unions, a fresh perspective on British history is uncovered in the landmark series "Art That Made Us."

Art That Made Us

Anjelica Huston narrates this compelling docudrama from award-winning filmmaker Karen Thomas, exploring the life and work of "the original art star" James McNeill Whistler, whose portrait of his mother is an icon of American culture.

Famous for his patent leather shoes, monocle, and swagger, his theatrics attracted the curiosity of buyers and the attention of critics. When John Ruskin accused him of flinging “a pot of paint” in the face of the public with his nearly abstract paintings, Whistler sued for libel and changed the course of art history.

Whistler’s paintings and drawings introduced ideas and art forms that were avant-garde for their time, paving the way for what became known as modern art decades later. His lasting influence is evident in works by Henri Matisse and Georgia O'Keeffe. Art students and enthusiasts will delight in learning more about this pioneer of "nearly abstract" art.

In this compelling docudrama, Angelica Huston narrates as Kevin Kline gives voice to the pioneering artist and original fame-seeker James McNeill Whistler.

Whistler: For Art's Sake

Pierce Brosnan narrates this beautifully crafted documentary, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of enigmatic Irish painter Jack B. Yeats.

Long overshadowed by his Nobel Prize-winning brother, William Butler Yeats, Jack's story is finally brought to light in this haunting film. Written by Los Angeles-based novelist Colm Tóibín, it explores the parallels between the two brothers and their shared fascination with transcendence.

Through interviews with experts, including Yeats biographer Hilary Pyle and historian Roy Foster, the film delves into the complex dynamics within the Yeats family and the profound influence of Sligo on Jack's artistic development. Personal reflections from collector John Kennedy and the son of Irish revolutionary Ernie O'Malley further enrich the narrative as they share their deep connections to Yeats's work. As Tóibín observes, Jack did not seek to explain the world but rather to deepen its sense of mystery.

Pierce Brosnan shines a light into the life and legacy of Ireland's greatest painter, Jack B. Yeats.

Jack B. Yeats: The Man Who Painted Ireland

Titian’s six nude masterpieces, inspired by Greek and Roman mythology, were reunited for the first time in centuries at London’s National Gallery. However, just as the exhibition opened, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the gallery to close. This documentary offers a rare glimpse of these iconic works before they were once again hidden from public view.

In 1550, Titian, Europe’s most celebrated painter, met Prince Philip of Spain, leading to one of art history’s most extraordinary commissions. Drawing inspiration from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Titian created six groundbreaking paintings that explore human desire, sexuality, and the consequences of love. Scattered across the globe, these works had not been united in over 450 years. Art enthusiasts have long dreamed of seeing them together, as Titian intended.

In addition to showcasing these stunning visuals, the documentary features expert interviews with art historians, classicists, and artists, offering insights into the enduring significance of these masterpieces.

Titian’s ''Love, Desire, and Death'' unite after 450 years in London's National Gallery.

Titian: Behind Closed Doors

Paul Gauguin's vivid depictions of Pacific Island landscapes and exotic women provide a glimpse into a world few could experience in his time. However, beneath his celebrated paintings lies a life as shocking today as it was then. 

Dominic West narrates Gauguin's own words, offering frank confessions in a film that both honors the artist's accomplishments and confronts his sexual exploitation of young Indigenous girls and his complicity in 19th-century French colonialism.

Filmed in France, New Zealand, Tahiti, the Marquesas Islands, and the UK, this documentary features insights from Gauguin’s descendants — great-granddaughter Mette Gauguin and Tahitian grandson Marcel Tai Gauguin — alongside commentary from art historians and contemporary artists Kehinde Wiley, Tai Shan Schierenberg, and Tyla Vaeau. Through a diverse range of perspectives, both critical and compassionate, the film presents a 21st-century analysis of this 19th-century enigma.

Paul Gauguin is one of the world’s most popular – and controversial – artists. Instantly recognisable, his paintings are in galleries across the globe and have been adored for their colourful beauty.

Gauguin: A Dangerous Life

Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne presents this deeply emotional documentary by Margy Kinmonth, which shines a powerful light into the abyss of warfare, where art has left a unique legacy.

“The Theory of Everything” star, who studied art history at Cambridge University, meets historians and soldiers and travels to battlefield locations, including Flanders, where he comes face-to-face with reminders of the fallen.

Redmayne interviews contemporary war artists George Butler (Syria) and Peter Howson (Bosnia), some of whose work has been deemed too horrific to be exhibited, and discovers paintings of conflict previously hidden from public view. Legendary canvasses by Paul Nash and J.S. Sargent feature, as do the modernists C.R.W. Nevinson and David Bomberg, whose bold abstract forms changed the artistic landscape forever.

Actor Eddie Redmayne explores artworks inspired by warfare and asks: Where does artistic expression end and propaganda begin? 

War Art with Eddie Redmayne

In 1832, Eugène Delacroix, the leading light of French Romanticism, journeyed to Africa and discovered a passion for the exotic that would inspire the Symbolist movement.

This seminal biography features sumptuous historical reconstructions based faithfully on Delacroix’s own travel diaries and exquisite sketchbooks and reveals for the first time encounters that would enrich his aesthetic repertoire until the end of his life.

In Morocco and Algeria, we see him entranced by the people and their attire, which he believed to be the visual equal of classical Rome and Greece. Delacroix is considered one of the last Old Masters of painting who brought new themes back from Africa that would influence Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, and many more. 

200 years ago, an Old Master discovered new themes in North Africa that would inspire his greatest work.

Delacroix: From Paris to Morocco

Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr.Strange, Sherlock) stars as Vincent Van Gogh in this captivating blend of theater and documentary.

A seamless blend of theatrical storytelling and historical insight, ''Van Gogh: Painted with Words'' reveals the tumultuous life of the Dutch painter with fascinating detail. Cumberbatch effortlessly portrays Van Gogh, revealing hidden dimensions of the painter's complex psyche. Based on years of research, every word he speaks was meticulously sourced from Van Gogh's extensive writings and correspondence with his brother Theo, offering an authentic portrayal of the artist's innermost thoughts and struggles. This film explores how Van Gogh's art impacted himself and the world. 

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Vincent Van Gogh in this captivating blend of theater and documentary.

Van Gogh: Painted with Words

This documentary explores the frank eroticism and hidden meanings behind symbolist painter Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss,” as well as the scandalous life of the artist himself.

Klimt was a leading figure in the Art Nouveau and Vienna Secession movements. His opulent paintings and objets d'art combined radical modernism, ancient mythology, and sensitive sensuality, with the female form serving as their main theme.

In the early 1890s, Gustav Klimt, who fathered at least fourteen children, met Austrian fashion designer Emilie Louise Flöge, a sibling of his sister-in-law. “The Kiss” (1907–08) is believed to depict them as lovers. It now hangs in the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere museum in Vienna and is widely considered Klimt's masterwork.

Discover the secret sensuality behind "The Kiss" and the scandalous life of the artist who dared to paint it, Gustav Klimt.

Klimt & The Kiss

Join esteemed historian Simon Schama as he shares the brilliant stories behind key masterworks from Caravaggio, Bernini, Rembrandt, David Turner, Van Gogh, and Picasso. 

In each episode, Schama focuses on a single artist, revealing the history and secrets woven into one of their famous works. From the emotional intensity of Van Gogh's brushstrokes to the revolutionary vision of Picasso's compositions, Schama reveals the fascinating history and evolution of artists who have changed how we view the world. 

Join esteemed historian Simon Schama as he shares the brilliant stories behind key masterworks from Caravaggio to Picasso. 

Simon Schama's Power of Art

Delve into the life and work of American abstract impressionist artist, Miriam Beerman. 

With a career spanning over six decades, Miriam Beerman's art is a striking exploration of dark and compelling works of expressionist art. Drawing inspiration from the horrific events of The Holocaust, the Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, biblical plagues, and tragic events in her personal life, Beerman strove to 'express the chaos' she perceived around her. 

This documentary visits a 90-year-old Miriam, battling a descent into dementia, to reflect on her life and work. Featuring interviews with contemporaries, art experts, and extensive interviews with the artist herself, this documentary is a beautiful celebration of a profoundly empathetic artist. 

Delve into the life and work of American abstract impressionist artist Miriam Beerman. 

Miriam Beerman: Expressing the Chaos

This intriguing documentary explores the mystical creative outposts of the Southern California Deserts, from Leonard Knight's famous ''Salvation Mountain'' in Slab City to the famous Desert X installations of the Coachella Valley. 

The harsh beauty of California's serene deserts has long been a haven for creative thinkers, artists, and rebels. The result is a desert teeming with artistic outposts and a unique history tucked among the rocks and dust. This film is a fascinating exploration of those outposts and their inhabitants. Visit Noah Purifoy’s Outdoor Desert Art Museum in Joshua Tree, explore Leonard Knight's colorful Salvation Mountain, Ricardo Breceda's monumental iron sculptures in Borrego Springs, the famous Desert X exhibits of the Coachella Valley, and experience art on the edge of Western civilization at the Bombay Beach Biennale festival. Along the way, you'll meet the artists and residents of these enclaves unearthing a hidden world of creative and political expression. 

This documentary explores the mystical creative outposts of the Southern California Deserts, from ''Salvation Mountain'' in Slab City to the famous Desert X installations of the Coachella Valley. 


Iconicity

American painter Edward Hopper's art is revered, popular, and shrouded in mystery. Renowned for his emotionally charged scenes like "Nighthawks," and "Automat," which capture the mood and solitude of American life, Hopper's captivating works have left a lasting mark on American Art. But who was the man behind these powerful images, and how did a struggling illustrator rise to become a celebrated artist? 

This compelling documentary takes a deep dive into the depths of Hopper's life following his journey from a fledgling illustrator to a critically acclaimed American icon. Shining a light on the pivotal role of his wife, who sacrificed her own promising career to manage him, this documentary examines Hopper's complex relationships and personal reflections through expert interviews, intimate diaries, and striking looks at some of his most famous works. This is a revealing look at one of America's most influential artists. 

This revealing documentary uncovers the enigmatic life and artistic journey of American painter Edward Hopper, exploring how his personal experiences shaped his art. 

Brilliant Isles

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