The Great Artists: Romantics and Realists
The Great Artists: Romantics and Realists is a documentary series about the lives, times and works of some of the great painters in Romanticism and Realism - Francisco Jose Goya y Lucientes, Caspar David Friedrich, Eugene Delacroix, Gustave Courbet, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and James Abbott McNeill Whistler. The series consists of six episodes, each of which highlights important events in each artist's life, explores their stylistic trademarks and provides detailed explanations of their techniques.
| Episode 1 - Francisco Goya |
Episode 1 - Francisco Goya
The images present in the dark paintings and prints by Francisco Goya are unprecedented in the history of Western art. Inspired by the horrors of war and the Inquisition, he produced timeless masterpieces that earned him a place among the greatest Romantic artists.
Episode 2 - Caspar David Friedrich
Caspar David Friedrich is known as the greatest painter of romantic landscapes. Rich in symbolism, Friedrich's landscapes capture the spiritual power of nature, and it is easy for the viewer to be both overwhelmed and attracted by his painstakingly detailed scenes of silence.
Episode 3 - Eugene Delacroix
Considered the greatest painter of French romanticism, Eugene Delacroix introduced romanticism in painting. Delacroix's use of expressive brushstrokes and his study of the optical effects of colour profoundly shaped the work of the Impressionists.
Episode 4 - Gustave Courbet
Gustave Courbet was the first artist to preach that art should revolve around ordinary places and people. He occupies an important place in 19th century French painting as an innovator in Realism and as an artist willing to make bold social commentary in his work.
Episode 5 - Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Dante Gabriel Rossetti was one of the most enigmatic of all English painters. Rossetti's images of beautiful women are amongst the most compelling created. His work influenced the European Symbolists and was a major precursor of the Aesthetic movement.
Episode 6 - James Abbott Whistler
Renowned for his witty banter, the work of James Abbott McNeill Whistler led many critics to believe him to be the forerunner of abstract art. Whistler influenced the art world and the broader culture of his time with his artistic theories and his friendships with leading artists and writers.
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