Great Art Explained
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About
Great Art Explained is a video series that focuses on one piece of art per episode, breaking it down, using clear and concise language free of 'art-speak'.
Seasons
2020
I'm James Payne, a curator, gallerist and a passionate art lover. I am on a mission to demystify the art world and discover the stories behind the world’s greatest paintings and sculptures. Each episode will focus on one piece of art and break it down, using clear and concise language free of 'art-speak'.
2021
I'm James Payne, a curator, gallerist and a passionate art lover. I am on a mission to demystify the art world and discover the stories behind the world’s greatest paintings and sculptures. Each episode will focus on one piece of art and break it down, using clear and concise language free of 'art-speak'.
2022
I'm James Payne, a curator, gallerist and a passionate art lover. I am on a mission to demystify the art world and discover the stories behind the world’s greatest paintings and sculptures. Each episode will focus on one piece of art and break it down, using clear and concise language free of 'art-speak'.
2023
I'm James Payne, a curator, gallerist and a passionate art lover. I am on a mission to demystify the art world and discover the stories behind the world’s greatest paintings and sculptures. Each episode will focus on one piece of art and break it down, using clear and concise language free of 'art-speak'.
2024
I'm James Payne, a curator, gallerist and a passionate art lover. I am on a mission to demystify the art world and discover the stories behind the world’s greatest paintings and sculptures. Each episode will focus on one piece of art and break it down, using clear and concise language free of 'art-speak'.
Episodes
2020
Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci (short version)
The Mona Lisa is without doubt the most famous painting in the world, yet perhaps we are over familiar with her. Here I explain why I think it is not only a great painting but also a revolution in art.
Picasso’s Guernica
Guernica is the most famous anti-war painting in history, and Picasso’s best-known work. It has gone from a piece that was created in protest at the horrific bombing of a small village in northern Spain, to an icon and a universal symbol of freedom from ALL wars. Picasso said, “We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth”, and like so much of Picasso’s work it can be difficult to decipher the ‘truth’ in the political, artistic and religious symbolism. James Payne looks at some of the more acknowledged interpretations along with techniques, composition and artistic inspiration. Guernica is a masterpiece that always leaves the viewer with more than they brought to it, and here, Great Art Explained, traces the work from its underwhelming reception when first seen in 1937, through to its status over eighty years later as one of the most influential and iconic works of all time.
Michelangelo's David
Michelangelo was the first superstar artist. He was a sculptor, a painter, an architect, a poet and an engineer. An outsider touched by genius. His statue of David, the most famous statue in the world, personifies the aesthetics of High Renaissance art, the politics of Renaissance Florence, and the technical virtuosity of Greek sculpture. James Payne looks at the story of Michelangelo’s David, and discovers it is anything but the story of a teenage boy king who slew Goliath.
The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault
This is the story about the painting of the raft that shook the world and scandalised high society. Not only for its anti-royalist statements but also for its choice of a black man as the hero. In an age of slavery. In its brutality, realism, and raw emotion it captures the essence of a historic event that shocked the French public, a Revolution-weary public that was not easy to shock. The story behind the painting is as devastating as the desperation on canvas.
Frida Kahlo's 'The Two Fridas"
Frida Kahlo is the most famous female artist in history. She deviated from the traditional portrayal of female beauty in art, and instead chose to paint raw and honest experiences. A near fatal bus accident at 18 left Frida crippled and in chronic pain her whole life, but she managed to make a virtue out of adversity, and astonishing original art out of her pain. She was a Mexican, female artist who was disabled, in a male-dominated environment in post-revolutionary Mexico. A feminist icon who broke all social conventions, and produced some of the most haunting and visionary images of the 20th century. James Payne explains 'The Two Fridas', her greatest painting, created during a period of deep instability fro Frida Kahlo.
The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan Van Eyck
The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan Van Eyck has baffled art historians ever since it was painted in 1434. It has been dissected and analysed, maybe more than any other painting in history, and in the process, become even more mysterious. During the medieval period, a rapid expansion in trade and commerce led to the rise of a new class, the incredibly wealthy and powerful merchant class. Bruges in the 15th century was the hub of international trade, and people came from all over the world, wanting to get rich. Including the Arnolfinis from Lucca in Italy. As those Merchants became richer, their appetite for social status grew. Consumerism was rampant and the ultimate way to show off your wealth was to commission a portrait. And by the 1430s, a portrait by Jan Van Eyke was the most exclusive status symbol
Artemisia Gentileschi
Women were excluded from almost all cultural and social resources in the centuries from 1400 to 1900 when so much of the world's great art was created. And visual art was almost entirely a male industry before modern times. Having an artist for a father was about the only way women could get access to the training expected of artists in Renaissance and baroque Europe. Women were not allowed to do apprenticeships, attend life classes or be members of the academies. Orazio Gentileschi, Artemisia’s father, was a well-known painter, who saw the potential in her from an early age and promoted her talent. Gentileschi became the very first woman accepted into the prestigious Florentine Academy of Fine Arts. Through her talent and determination she had a 40-year career, and was collected by the likes of Charles I of England and Philip 4th of Spain. And yet, she was largely forgotten and written out of art history for 300 years. Why? The simple answer is, because she was a woman.
Andy Warhol's Marilyn Diptych
Andy Warhol made “Marilyn Diptych” in 1962, right after Marilyn Monroe’s death. By the 1960s Marilyn’s film career as a sex symbol was all but over. Warhol would effectively immortalize Marilyn as the sex symbol of the 20th century. The seductive blonde Marilyn with the heavy-lidded eyes and parted lips is frozen in time. She is transformed into the personification of the allure and glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age. Marilyn would make Warhol a household name, and Warhol would make Marilyn an icon. Marilyn Diptych is perhaps his greatest canvas, bringing together celebrity, death and exposure. It is both a warning and a love letter to America. Warhol, who is often criticised as vacuous or superficial, produced art, that is profoundly subversive and quite simply a perfect mirror of our times. Andy Warhol and Marilyn Monroe were both the embodiment of the American dream. They also, both projected a vacant persona that made sure no-body knew the real person behind the mask.
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Looking for a place to watch Great Art Explained online for free? You've landed on the right page. Great Art Explained is a talked-about Inglés documentary series from 2020 that you can stream right now on CineFlixo in high quality, no signup required.
About Great Art Explained
Great Art Explained is a video series that focuses on one piece of art per episode, breaking it down, using clear and concise language free of 'art-speak'. Across 5 seasons and 39 episodes, originally airing on YouTube, with status "Returning Series".
Where to Watch Great Art Explained Online
CineFlixo lets you stream Great Art Explained online free, instantly, in HD. There's nothing to install — open the page, hit play, done. Works perfectly on Jio, Airtel, Vi networks across India and on slow mobile data thanks to our adaptive video pipeline.
▶ Watch Great Art Explained NowWhy People Are Watching Great Art Explained
Great Art Explained flies under the radar but it deserves your attention. What makes it work is a tone and style that's hard to find elsewhere. If you enjoy Inglés storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of show you'll end up recommending to friends.
Frequently Asked Questions about Great Art Explained
Where can I watch Great Art Explained online for free?
You can watch Great Art Explained online free on CineFlixo. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.
How many episodes does Great Art Explained have?
Great Art Explained has 39 episodes across 5 seasons. All episodes are available to stream right here on CineFlixo.
Is Great Art Explained good? What's the rating?
Great Art Explained holds a 0.0/10 rating based on 0 reviews — a niche pick worth checking out.
Is Great Art Explained available in Inglés?
Yes — Great Art Explained was originally produced in Inglés and that's the version you'll stream here on CineFlixo. English subtitles are provided when available.
When was Great Art Explained released?
Great Art Explained first aired in 2020.
Do I need an account to watch Great Art Explained on CineFlixo?
No. CineFlixo is free and you can watch Great Art Explained without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Great Art Explained for free?
You can watch Great Art Explained online for free on CineFlixo. All 39 episodes across 5 seasons are available to stream in HD without a subscription, signup, or paywall. Just open the show page and press play.
How many seasons and episodes does Great Art Explained have?
Great Art Explained currently has 5 seasons and a total of 39 episodes. The series status is "Returning Series", so the episode count may grow as new seasons are released. You can browse the full episode list on CineFlixo and continue watching from where you left off.
What is Great Art Explained about?
Great Art Explained is a video series that focuses on one piece of art per episode, breaking it down, using clear and concise language free of 'art-speak'. It belongs to the Documentary genre.
In which language is Great Art Explained originally available?
Great Art Explained was originally produced in English. On CineFlixo the show is available in its original English audio, which is the most authentic way to experience the dialogue, music, and performances. Check the player options on the watch page for available subtitle tracks.
When was Great Art Explained first released?
Great Art Explained first premiered on May 29, 2020 (2020). The show is still ongoing with new episodes being released.
All Seasons
Browse every season of Great Art Explained — 5 seasons in total
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