Art That Made Us

"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.

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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

Art documentary

The haunting beauty of Van Gogh's creative genius is explored in extraordinary detail at the National Gallery in London.

Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers

Art documentary

What if Giuseppe Arcimboldo was a painter of Modern Art before its time?

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Arcimboldo: Portrait of an Audacious Man

Art documentary

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

Titian: Behind Closed Doors

Art documentary

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

War Art with Eddie Redmayne

Art documentary

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

Delacroix: From Paris to Morocco

Art documentary

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

Art documentary

Enter Frida Kahlo's "The Blue House," where Pablo Picasso, Leon Trotsky, and wild nights lit up Mexico City with art, love, and revolution.

Coming Soon

At Frida Kahlo's

Art documentary

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

Art documentary

Art That Made Us: Season 1

David Threlfall reveals a post-Roman Britain that wasn't dark but instead an age of vibrant culture in “Art That Made Us.”

Lights in the Darkness

Art documentary

Creativity emerges from the ashes of the plague, with art, music, and literature flourishing in a ''Revolution of the Dead.''

Revolution of the Dead

Art documentary

Art, language, and fashion are weaponized in a 16th-century battle for power in the landmark series “Art That Made Us.”

Queens, Feuds and Faith

Art documentary

Contemporary artists view Stuart-era political, ecclesiastical, and cultural divisions through the prism of vibrant artifacts in “To Kill A King.”

To Kill A King

Art documentary

Wealth from trade and conquest see art thrive in 18th-century Britain, but its artists challenge injustice and the atrocities of slavery.

Consumers and Conscience

Art documentary

Industry booms, cities rise, and artists grapple with Britain's changing social culture in this fascinating episode of ''Art That Made Us.''

Rise of the Cities

Art documentary

As war tears through Europe, artists fight back, helping to forge a new British spirit in ''Art That Made Us.''

Wars and Peace

Art documentary

A new generation of artists rebel against class and redefine British culture in this concluding episode of ''Art That Made Us.''

Brilliant Isles

Art documentary

Art That Made Us