Samuel West
Narrator
Series SeasonSeason 7 episodes2006
The Private Life of a Masterpiece
The Private Life of a Christmas Masterpiece
No season overview available.
Episodes
Each episode has its own detail page.
Episode 150 min2006-12-24
Jan van Eyck: The Annunciation
The first moment in the Christmas story is the arrival of the Archangel Gabriel to tell Mary that she has been chosen to give birth to the son of God. Many painters have depicted this miraculous event, but none better than the great Flemish painter Jan Van Eyck. As befits a man who seemed to mix espionage with painting for his patron, Eyck's picture is full of symbols and half-concealed messages.
Episode 250 min2006-12-25
Pieter Bruegel the Elder: Census at Bethlehem
A closer look at the image that inspired a thousand Christmas cards: Brueghel's Census at Bethlehem. It depicts Mary and Joseph's arrival in the town - but also offers a glimpse into life in a Netherlands village under the rule of foreign invaders.
Episode 350 min2006-12-26
Paul Gauguin: God's Child
The series concludes with a look at Paul Gauguin 's interpretation of the Nativity scene, a distinctively modern piece in which he depicted the Madonna as a young Polynesian woman, using his pregnant mistress as his model. Far removed from traditional images, it has been hailed for its relevance to the contemporary world.