Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

The Reith Lectures

Podcasts

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

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

BBC Radio 4 FM

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

1955: Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art

06/11/1955

Perpendicular England

Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art

BBC Radio 4 - The Reith Lectures, Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art, Perpendicular England

Nikolaus Pevsner examines 'the most English creation in architecture'.

The art historian Nikolaus Pevsner examines the Perpendicular style, formed in England in about 1330, and which he calls 'the most English creation in architecture'.

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 fourth lecture, Dr Pevsner examines the Perpendicular style, formed in England in about 1330, and which he calls 'the most English creation in architecture'. It represented a complete break with what had gone before, but once it had been established universally in the country by the 1380s, it remained virtually unchanged for 150 years, so much so that even specialists struggle to determine accurate dates for this style of work. 

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

BBC Radio 4

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.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Reith Lectures

Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art

Perpendicular England

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4