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The Reith Lectures

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Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.

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The Reith Lectures: Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art: Reynolds and Detachment

1955: Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art

30/10/1955

Reynolds and Detachment

Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art

BBC Radio 4 - The Reith Lectures, Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art, Reynolds and Detachment

Nikolaus Pevsner examines the contradiction at the heart of Sir Joshua Reynolds' work.

The art historian Nikolaus Pevsner examines the very English contradiction at the heart of the work of portrait painter Sir Joshua Reynolds, in his third Reith lecture.

This year's Reith lecturer is Dr Nikolaus Pevsner, the German-born British scholar of history of art and architecture, and author of the county guide series, The Buildings of England (1951–74). In this series, Pevsner explores the qualities of art which he regards as particularly English, as illustrated in the works of several English artists, and what they say about the English national character.

In his third lecture, Dr Pevsner examines the work of the portrait painter Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), and argues that the far-reaching contrast between his promotion of painting in the Grand Manner, and how he actually painted, is eminently English. 

The Reith Lectures: Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Historian Nikolaus Pevsner considers some of the defining characteristics of English art.

Art historian Dr Nikolaus Pevsner explores the qualities of art which he regards as particularly English, and what they say about the English national character.

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