Why Beauty Matters

Philosopher Roger Scruton presents a provocative essay on the importance of beauty in the arts and in our lives.

In the 20th century, Scruton argues, art, architecture and music turned their backs on beauty, making a cult of ugliness and leading us into a spiritual desert.

Using the thoughts of philosophers from Plato to Kant, and by talking to artists Michael Craig-Martin and Alexander Stoddart, Scruton analyses where art went wrong and presents his own impassioned case for restoring beauty to its traditional position at the center of our civilization. Watch below.  

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The Art of Russia

Series in which art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon tells the incredible story of Russian art – its mystery and magnificence – and until now a story untold on British television.

He explores the origins of the Russian icon from its roots in Byzantium and the first great Russian icon, Our Lady of Vladimir to the masterpieces of the country’s most famous icon painter, Andrei Rublev.

Both epic and awe-inspiring, and producing brilliant art, nevertheless medieval Russia could be a terrifying place.

Out of the Forest. Criss-crossing the epic landscape, Andrew visits the monastery founded by Ivan the Terrible, where his favorite forms of torture found inspiration in religious art. One man would shine a light into Russia’s dark ages – Peter the Great who, surprisingly, took as his inspiration Deptford in South London.

Roads to Revolution. He explores how Russia changed from a feudal nation of aristocratic excess to a hotbed of revolution at the beginning of the 20th century and how art moved from being a servant of the state to an agent of its destruction.

Smashing the Mould. The final part examines political revolution and how art was at the forefront of throwing out 1,000 years of royal rule, from its earliest revolutionary days of enthusiasm and optimism when painting died, the poster was king and the machine-made triumphed over the handmade to the dead hand of Socialist Realism.

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This Is Modern Art

This Is Modern Art was a series written and presented by the English art critic Matthew Collings.

The series won several awards including a BAFTA. It became popular both because of its sometimes jokey and sometimes thoughtful explanations of the work and attitude of a new wave of artists that had recently been publicized in the British mass media, and because of its author’s witty and irreverent, though clearly highly informed, commentary style.

Collings went on to create several more TV series and programmes for Channel 4, including Impressionism: Revenge of The Nice, and This Is Civilisation.

Focuses on the current state of modern art, and looks back at Picasso, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol to see how they changed the definition of art. Reveals the ways modern art attempts to shock the audience.

Investigates on whether the once accepted view of art as merely a thing of beauty prevails today, examining the works of various artists. Watch below or here on YouTube.

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Impressionism: Revenge of the Nice

Matthew Collings has a wonderfully simple and funny way of making you understand the when, where, why and how of important is art so this programme will get your head around impressionism in a couple of hours.

Matthew Collings will reappraise the Impressionists. The four stars are Courbet, Manet, Monet and Cezanne. In two hours their stories and their art will intertwine. Matt will unpack the principles of Impressionism – the strength of color, the flatness, the patterning and the way in which ordinary life is pictured with startling truth – and argue that this is the best thing that has ever happened in modern art.

He will also show that although the contemporary art world seemingly despises Impressionism it is only because of Impressionism that the avant-garde came to be.

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The Genius of Mozart

An enlightening and enveloping reconstruction of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s (1756–1791) life. Masterfully written and directed, every aspect of the film has been given thorough thought in order to ensure an accurate historical reconstruction. Inspirational performances from the main actors and actresses foster captivation, while regular narrative interjections from the popular composer and conductor Charles Hazlewood brings an insightful, educational dimension.

The story begins with the composer’s father Leopold with whom Mozart conducted a passionate and tortured correspondence. It is Leopold who knows Mozart’s secrets. And there is another voice: that of the music itself. Music is the key to unlocking the emotions of Mozart, starting in this film with the great piano works. Without this key, how can we ever understand the emotions that gave birth to some of the most beautiful sounds the world has ever heard? The first great phase of Mozart’s brief life was that of the travelling child prodigy – gifted as a performer and writer of music – who grew into the genius who, working within the restrictions of his time, began to rewrite the musical rules.

But there was another facet to Mozart – the adult thinker aware of the bigger picture, passionately attached to the progressive values of the Enlightenment – impressively well-read, a speaker of most European languages (even a little English), an Austrian Catholic, a Freemason and above all a composer at the height of his formidable powers, determined to succeed in the most difficult and lucrative area of all – Opera.

Watch here or the playlist below.

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Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child

Directed by Tamra Davis, the documentary features footage of Jean-Michel Basquiat painting, talking about his art and existing in the two years prior to his death in 1988. Jean-Michel Basquiat (December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988) was an American artist, musician, poet, and producer. He began as a graffiti artist in New York City in the late 1970s and evolved into Neo-expressionist artist during the 1980s.

Watch below from the YouTube Playlist.

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Girl with a Pearl Earring

This film, adapted from a work of fiction by author Tracy Chevalier, tells a story about the events surrounding the creation of the painting "Girl With A Pearl Earring" by 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer.

Little is known about the girl in the painting, it is speculated that she was a maid who lived in the house of the painter along with his family and other servants, though there is no historical evidence . This masterful film attempts to recreate the mysterious girl's life.

Griet, played by Scarlett Johansson, is a maid in the house of painter Johannes Vermeer, played by British actor Colin Firth. Vermeer's wealthy patron and sole means of support, Van Ruijven, commissions him to paint Griet with the intent that he will have her for himself before it is finished. She must somehow secretly pose for the crucial painting without the knowledge of Vermeer's wife. Watch the clip, and the movie at StageVU

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Tim Marlow's Great Artists

A major 14 part television series in which art historian Tim Marlow takes a fresh look at the most important artworks of some of the greatest artists in history. Shot on location in over 50 galleries, museums, churches and palaces throughout Europe and the United States, this series is a comprehensive survey of the history of Western art. Both intelligent and informative, the series aims to provide an uncomplicated and accessible analysis of the works and artists featured including Giotto, Leonardo, Durer, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Bruegel, Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer, El Greco, Velázquez, Turner, and Van Gogh.

Director: Phil Grabsky Year: 2001 Country: England BBC

  1- Giotto Watch on Tudou
 2- Leonardo Da Vinci Watch on Veoh  Watch on Tudou
 3- Durer Watch on Veoh  Watch on Tudou
 4- Michelangelo Watch on Tudou
 5- Raphael Watch on Veoh  Watch on Tudou
 6- Titian Watch on Veoh  Watch on Tudou
 7- Bruegel Watch on Tudou
 8- Greco Watch on Tudou
 9- Rubens Watch on Veoh  Watch on Tudou 
10- Velazquez Watch on Veoh  Watch on Tudou
11- Rembrandt Watch on Tudou
12- Vermeer Watch on Veoh  Watch on Tudou
13- Turner Watch on YouKu  Watch on Tudou  Watch on Veoh
14- Van Gogh Watch on Veoh  Watch on YouKu  Watch on Tudou

Other Great Artists from the continuing series include:  Delacroix on Veoh, Goya on Tudou, Piero della Francesca on Tudou and Whistler on Veoh

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Leonardo Da Vinci

This is the story of one of the greatest minds in history.

An artist, scientist, engineer, visionary and all-round genius, Leonardo Da Vinci (1452–1519) was arguably the main figure of the Renaissance.

Over three gripping episodes, this docudrama from the BBC reconstructs the life of Leonardo from early boyhood to death.

Each episode is infused with brilliant academic commentary and includes the building and testing of some of Leonardo’s inventions, including his tank, hang glider, underwater suit, and parachute.

Did these amazing concepts work as Leonardo intended?

Watch the full documentary below (4 hour play list)
A bonus documentary from History Channel is included.

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