Season 1 · Episode 1
Adam Rutherford begins his series by looking at the work of the 2nd century Roman anatomist Claudius Galen and the artist and part-time dissector Leonardo da Vinci.
In 1537, the 23-year-old Andreas Vesalius became the most famous anatomist in Europe. He went on to produce the first complete account of the human body and how to dissect it, his drawings setting the gold standard for anatomical art for centuries to come and earning him the title of 'the founder of modern anatomy'. Adam Rutherford tells his story.
In the 17th century in Holland, anatomy became the cutting edge of medical science, inspiring the great artists of the age like Rembrandt to produce the most beautiful anatomical paintings yet created. Adam Rutherford travels to the Hague and Amsterdam to find out what it was that drew Rembrandt to anatomy and why dissecting bodies was thought a suitable subject for high art.
Dr Adam Rutherford investigates the story of the Hunter brothers, the celebrated anatomists who controversially transformed both medicine and art in 18th-century Britain. Their belief that their students could only learn anatomy by carrying out dissections created an unprecedented demand for dead bodies and a market for the growing trade of body-snatching from graveyards.
The world's most famous study of the human body is Gray's Anatomy. The accuracy of the descriptions and the stark beauty of the illustrations made it an instant bestseller. Adam Rutherford tells the story of how, in just three years, Dr Henry Gray and Dr Henry Carter put it together based on dissections they personally performed.
In this three-part documentary series Waldemar Januszczak discovers paintings, sculptures and architecture of the Baroque period. Starting from the square of Saint Peter's Basilica in Italy to St Paul's Cathedral in England.
2009
No description available.
2017
His art changed the way we see the world - now change the way you see the artist. An unflinching look at Picasso's legacy, and the horror and brilliance of what he left behind. Family, friends and experts reassess the tumultuous artistic and personal life of Pablo Picasso, one of the greatest and most provocative artists of all time.
2023
2018
As Johnny prepares to create a piece of public art for his home town of St Helens, an unexpected diagnosis sets him off on a complex emotional journey of self-discovery where art and life sometimes merge.
2025
In one of his final TV projects, the presenter takes a journey around the human body, putting his own to the test to help viewers understand their own.
2024
Art historian Waldemar Januszczak uncovers the secret meanings hidden within some of the greatest paintings by Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne and Seurat .
2020
Andrew Graham-Dixon embarks on his most ambitious journey yet, an exploration of the rich, exciting and diverse art history of the United States of America
2011
Andrew Graham-Dixon undertakes an epic journey to uncover the art of China.
2014
Through the beauty of artistic forms, Ramon Gener goes inside the inner workings of human nature. All artists use art to explain their emotions.
On a journey through a dozen countries, Anik Magny met contemporary artists who are exploring the secrets of desire and the forbidden, creating stunning works that stimulate the senses and give us pause.
2016
Seven Ages of Britain is a BBC television documentary series which is written and presented by David Dimbleby. The seven part series was first aired on Sunday nights at 9:00pm on BBC One starting on 31 January 2010. The series covers the history of Britain's greatest art and artefacts over the past 2000 years. Each episode covers a different period in British history. In Australia, all seven episodes aired on ABC1 each Tuesday at 8:30pm from 7 September 2010.
2010
Sister Wendy Beckett, a cloistered nun and Oxford-educated art scholar, takes an art appreciation tour across America, visiting six major art museums in this 6-hours documentary series from PBS.
2001
Delve into the world of video game box art with the artists responsible for some of gaming’s most iconic images ever created. Hear about the creation process, discover easter eggs hidden in plain sight, see alternate cover art options, and learn how the gaming industry evolved from infancy until now. Welcome to Video Game Box Art: The Stories Behind the Covers.
2019
Artist Helen Dealtry gives a glimpse into the creative process of painting.
2021
Great Southern Landscapes follows art lover and actor Rachel Griffiths as she explores Australia's most iconic landscapes and the untold personal, social and cultural stories behind them.
2022