Storyline

Sister Wendy Beckett takes a journey through the history of art in this ten-part series.

First Aired

1996-07-01
Last Aired

1996-09-09
Creator
Genre

Documentary
Seasons

1
Episodes

10
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

BBC One

Keywords:

nun cave painting art art history fine art paintings

Stream and watch Sister Wendy's Story of Painting

Season 1

1. The Mists of Time

Sister Wendy discovers masterpieces from the time of the cavemen, the world of the pharaohs, and the a...More

Sister Wendy discovers masterpieces from the time of the cavemen, the world of the pharaohs, and the age of chivalry.Less

30mins 1996-07-01

2. A Hero Steps Forth

Sister Wendy takes a closer look at art in the Middle Ages. Featured is works by Giotto, Duccio, Ambro...More

Sister Wendy takes a closer look at art in the Middle Ages. Featured is works by Giotto, Duccio, Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Simone Martini, Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden and Hieronymus Bosch.Less

30mins 1996-07-08

3. The Age of Genius

Sister Wendy visits Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, where she explains why she thinks the Mon...More

Sister Wendy visits Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, where she explains why she thinks the Mona Lisa is smiling. Then she moves on to Rome, where she explores the Sistine Chapel.Less

30mins 1996-07-15

4. Two Sides of the Alps

Sister Wendy looks at the Renaissance in Venice and Northern Europe, taking in works by Bellini, Titia...More

Sister Wendy looks at the Renaissance in Venice and Northern Europe, taking in works by Bellini, Titian, Giorgione, Veronese, Durer, Holbein and Bruegel along the way.Less

30mins 1996-07-22

5. Passion and Ecstasy

Sister Wendy looks at how, in the Baroque period, the Catholic Church used art and artists to fight ba...More

Sister Wendy looks at how, in the Baroque period, the Catholic Church used art and artists to fight back against the Reformation of Rome.Less

30mins 1996-08-05

6. Three Golden Ages

Sister Wendy explores the golden ages of painting in 17th century Spain, France and the Netherlands. S...More

Sister Wendy explores the golden ages of painting in 17th century Spain, France and the Netherlands. She journeys from Rembrandt's Amsterdam through the Spanish court and the works of Velazquez to the ruins of ancient Rome.Less

30mins 1996-08-12

7. Revolution

Sister Wendy studies English painting at the time of the Industrial Revolution, looks at art during th...More

Sister Wendy studies English painting at the time of the Industrial Revolution, looks at art during the French Revolution, and visits Spain for the romantic genius of Goya.Less

30mins 1996-08-19

8. Impressions of Light

Sister Wendy tells the story of the Impressionists and their followers, visiting Monet's garden at Giv...More

Sister Wendy tells the story of the Impressionists and their followers, visiting Monet's garden at Giverny and the field where Van Gogh shot himself.Less

30mins 1996-08-26

9. A New Pair of Eyes

Sister Wendy visits Paris and the south of France as she traces the beginnings of modern art from Ceza...More

Sister Wendy visits Paris and the south of France as she traces the beginnings of modern art from Cezanne to Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky, Dali and Klee.Less

30mins 1996-09-02

10. The Never Ending Story

Sister Wendy focuses on the art world that developed in America after the Second World War, looking at...More

Sister Wendy focuses on the art world that developed in America after the Second World War, looking at works by Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and Lucian Freud.Less