Critic Shelf
Home
Discover
Your rating
Tap a star, half steps count

The Private Life of a Masterpiece

2001 – 2010 · BBC Two
9 seasons · 34 episodes
No ratings yet
Documentary

YOUR PROGRESS

NEXT S1 E1
0%
0 of 34 episodes

PLOT

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.

REVIEWS

View reviews

SEASONS

0 of 34 episodes

SERIES CAST

Samuel West
Narrator
Tim Pigott-Smith
Narrator

DETAILS

Status
Ended
Type
Documentary
First aired
Dec 8, 2001
Original language
EN
Production
Fulmar TV & Film
Country
GB

RECOMMENDED

Biography
1987
American Masters
1986
Doctor Who Confidential
2005
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
2011
JANET JACKSON.
2022
Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson
2021
Critic Shelf
Rate what you watch, show it on shelves, and compare taste with anyone. Film and TV data from TMDB.
ACCOUNT
Sign in
Create account
Delete account
COMPANY
About
Contact
Privacy
Terms
This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.
© 2026 Critic Shelf
WATCH · RATE · COMPARE