Great Art Season 1

The series opens with an episode dedicated to The Royal Collection Trust's unparalleled collection of works by Venice's famous view-painter Canaletto. Stepping inside the royal residences of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, it reveals how the world's largest Canaletto collection made its home in Britain. The episode also captures the essence and allure of Venice, embarking on a 21st century Grand Tour to reveal how Canaletto's art was influenced by the great Italian city.

Monet, Cézanne, Degas, Renoir: some of the world's most popular artists. Their works, and that of their contemporaries, fetch tens of millions of dollars around the globe. But who were they really? Why & how exactly did they paint? What lies behind their enduring appeal?

The spectacular sculptures and paintings of Michelangelo seem so familiar to us, but what do we really know about this Renaissance genius? Who was this ambitious and passionate man? A giant artistic force and universally loved, the film illustrates why Michelangelo is without a doubt one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance – and perhaps of all time.

Every Rembrandt exhibition is eagerly anticipated, but a once-in-a-lifetime show at London's National Gallery and Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum that took 15 years to prepare was remarkable. With exclusive and privileged access to both galleries, this film documents this landmark exhibition while interweaving Rembrandt's life story with behind-the-scenes preparations at these world-famous institutions. Rembrandt is the greatest artist that ever lived to many, and this film seeks to explore the truth.

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer is one of the most enduring paintings in the history of art.Even today, a recent world tour of the painting provoked huge queues lining up for the briefest glimpse of its majestic beauty – in Japan 1.2 million people came to see the exhibition.Yet the painting itself is surrounded by mystery.This film seeks to investigate the many unanswered questions associated with this mysterious artwork.Who was this girl? Why and how was it painted? Why is it so revered?