The Nude in Art with Tim Marlow

Description

The Nude in Art with Tim Marlow

Leading art historian Tim Marlow presents a four-part series exploring the nude in art. This comprehensive and illuminating series charts the portrayal of the naked body throughout history from Classical times through the Renaissance and the Enlightenment to the Modern Era.

“It’s a joy to see a programme on art that is both intelligent and intelligible. Marlow has talent.”
Time Out

The Classical

Tim Marlow’s main focus is the ancient classical world. He explores how and why the naked body was first depicted and goes on to show how the ‘Venus de Milo’ and the ‘Venus of Willendorf’ fit into the context of social and art history.

The Renaissance

Marlow travels to England, France and Italy on a lively, visual journey illustrating how the Christian idea of nudity associated with sin was replaced with ideas of nudity being associated with beauty and sensuality. Included are Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’, Michelangelo’s ‘David’ and Giotto’s ‘The Last Judgement’.

The Enlightenment

Tim Marlow looks at how the image of a naked body was used for a variety of purposes during this period – to shock, to coerce, to titillate, to impress and to instruct. Examples are Rembrandt’s ‘The Anatomy Lesson’, Ingres’ ‘The Turkish Bath’ and Rodin’s ‘The Age of Bronze’.

The Modern

Marlow explores examples of the nude in the Modern period: Manet’s ‘Olympia’, Picasso’s ‘Les Demoiselles D’Avignon’ and Bacon’s ‘Triptych’. Marlow explains how the 20th century changed perspective on the nude in art as emotional truth overcame physical realism. With the advent of photography and film, nothing seemed beyond the artists’ interest or capabilities.

“Watchable and welcoming, this is an excellent introduction to art.”  Time Out
Running time: 4 x 23 mins