The High Art of the Low Countries

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Andrew Graham-Dixon

Ian Leese

Silvia Sacco

Basil Comely

The High Art of the Low Countries: Episode 2: Boom and Bust

Documentaries

Episode 2

Episode 2: Boom and Bust

Boom and Bust

BBC Four - The High Art of the Low Countries, Boom and Bust

How a period of economic boom led to the Dutch golden age of the 17th century.

Andrew Graham-Dixon examines how a period of economic boom driven by a burgeoning and secular middle class led to the Dutch golden age of the 17th century.

Andrew Graham-Dixon looks at how the seemingly peaceful countries of Holland and Belgium - famous for their tulips and windmills, mussels and chips - were in fact forged in a crucible of conflict and division. He examines how a period of economic boom driven for the first time by a burgeoning and secular middle class led to the Dutch golden age of the 17th century, creating not only the concept of oil painting itself, but the master painters Rembrandt and Vermeer combining art and commerce together as we would recognise it today.

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BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

Exploring how history has influenced the Low Countries' art, architecture and culture.

Series in which Andrew Graham-Dixon tours the Low Countries, exploring how history has influenced the area's art, architecture and culture.

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The High Art of the Low Countries

Episode 2: Boom and Bust

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