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Turner - Light and Landscape

Art historian Leslie Primo explores the 大象传媒 archives to create a TV history of perhaps the UK鈥檚 most beloved artist, JMW Turner.

Art historian Leslie Primo examines six decades of 大象传媒 archive to explore what makes JMW Turner such a beloved name in British art. Almost everyone has good things to say about Turner - after all, he鈥檚 responsible for some of Britain鈥檚 greatest artistic treasures, like The Fighting Temeraire, and Rain, Steam and Speed. But exactly what makes him great is where opinions can differ.

Leslie discovers the TV art historians behind each theory. Was Turner great because he reinvented landscape painting, because he was a radical whose work marked the beginning of modern painting, or because he captured the extraordinary march of the industrial revolution? Through the archives, Leslie meets Fiona Bruce, Simon Schama, Andrew Graham-Dixon and Kenneth Clarke.

Leslie also finds that the disputed nature of Turner鈥檚 brilliance has made for some entertaining film-making, from a frock-coat- and powdered-wig-loaded reconstruction of his humble origins as the son of a barber in London鈥檚 Covent Garden, to modern art historian Tim Marlow lashing himself to a mast in the middle of a choppy ocean to recreate Turner鈥檚 inspiration for Fishermen at Sea.

Even if you think you know Turner, the programme reveals fascinating surprises about the complex man behind some of Britain鈥檚 most revered works of art.

58 minutes

Last on

Wed 26 Jan 2022 23:30

Music Played

  • James Horner

    Titanic

  • The Who

    Baba O'Riley

  • Elbow

    Some Riot

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Leslie Primo
Interviewed Guest Jonathan Jones
Interviewed Guest Nicola Moorby
Interviewed Guest Francesca Whitlum-Cooper
Executive Producer Ed Stobart
Executive Producer Emma Parkins
Director Ben Harding

Broadcasts

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