Great Art - Season 1

The series opens with an episode dedicated to The Royal Collection Trust's unparalleled collection of works by Venice's famous view-painter Canaletto. Stepping inside the royal residences of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, it reveals how the world's largest Canaletto collection made its home in Britain. The episode also captures the essence and allure of Venice, embarking on a 21st century Grand Tour to reveal how Canaletto's art was influenced by the great Italian city.

Monet, Cézanne, Degas, Renoir: some of the world's most popular artists. Their works, and that of their contemporaries, fetch tens of millions of dollars around the globe. But who were they really? Why & how exactly did they paint? What lies behind their enduring appeal?

The spectacular sculptures and paintings of Michelangelo seem so familiar to us, but what do we really know about this Renaissance genius? Who was this ambitious and passionate man?

A virtuoso craftsman, Michelangelo's artistry is evident in everything he touched. Beautiful and diverse works such as the towering statue of David, the deeply moving Pietà in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter and his tour-de-force, the Sistine Chapel ceiling, still leave us breathless today.

Spanning his 89 years, Michelangelo: Love and Death takes a cinematic journey from the print and drawing rooms of Europe, through the great chapels and museums of Florence, Rome and the Vatican to explore the tempestuous life of Michelangelo.

We go in search of a greater understanding of this most charismatic figure, his relationship with his contemporaries and his valuable artistic legacy. Through expert commentary and Michelangelo's own words, this film takes a fresh look at an enigmatic man whose life is celebrated in every mark and every stroke he made.

A giant artistic force and universally loved, the film illustrates why Michelangelo is without a doubt one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance – and perhaps of all time.

Every Rembrandt exhibition is eagerly anticipated, but a once-in-a-lifetime show at London's National Gallery and Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum that took 15 years to prepare was remarkable. With exclusive and privileged access to both galleries, this film documents this landmark exhibition while interweaving Rembrandt's life story with behind-the-scenes preparations at these world-famous institutions. Rembrandt is the greatest artist that ever lived to many, and this film seeks to explore the truth.

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer is one of the most enduring paintings in the history of art.Even today, a recent world tour of the painting provoked huge queues lining up for the briefest glimpse of its majestic beauty – in Japan 1.2 million people came to see the exhibition.Yet the painting itself is surrounded by mystery.This film seeks to investigate the many unanswered questions associated with this mysterious artwork.Who was this girl? Why and how was it painted? Why is it so revered? After its world tour, the Girl with a Pearl Earring returned to the much-loved Mauritshuis in The Hague, Netherlands, which had just completed extensive renovations.Enjoying unparalleled exclusive access to this historical gallery, the film takes the audience on a journey through the masterpieces of the gallery using key works to help answer many of the questions surrounding this enigmatic painting and its mysterious creator Vermeer.