Series

The Private Life of a Masterpiece

2001 · 9 seasons · Documentary

IMDb

8.6

Private Life of a Masterpiece is a BBC arts documentary series that tells the stories behind great works of art reaching from the Renaissance to modern art. David by Michelangelo, The Scream by Edvard Munch, The Third of May 1808 by Francisco Goya, The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn, Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso, The Annunciation by Jan van Eyck, ... The Art of Painting by Johannes Vermeer. For behind the beautiful canvases and sculptures are tales of political revolution, wartime escapes, massive ego clashes, social scandal, financial wrangling and shocking violence. The series reveals the full and fascinating stories behind famous works of art, not just how they came to be created, but also how they influenced others and came to have a life of their own in the modern world.

Samuel West

Narrator

First aired

December 8, 2001

Last aired

October 25, 2010

Status

Ended

Original language

English

Episodes

29

Genres

Documentary

• 
  Season 12 episodes · 2001
• 
  Season 22 episodes · 2003
• 
  Season 310 episodes · 2004
• 
  Season 45 episodes · 2004
• 
  Season 55 episodes · 2005
• 
  The Private Life of an Easter Masterpiece3 episodes · 2006
• 
  The Private Life of a Christmas Masterpiece3 episodes · 2006
• 
  Season 82 episodes · 2009
• 
  Season 92 episodes · 2010