Art of France

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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

Andrew Graham-Dixon takes viewers on a stunning visual journey through French art history.

Series 1

BBC Four

Andrew Graham-Dixon

Tim Kirby

Basil Comely

Silvia Sacco

Imogen Stringer

Art of France: Series 1: Episode 1: Plus Ça Change

Plus Ca Change

Episode 1

Episode 1: Plus Ça Change

Plus Ça Change

BBC Four - Art of France, Series 1, Plus Ça Change

French art's development up to the arrival of classicism and the Age of Enlightenment.

Andrew Graham-Dixon takes a stunning visual journey through French art history. He traces its development to the arrival of classicism and the Age of Enlightenment.

Art historian and critic Andrew Graham-Dixon opens this series with the dramatic story of French art, a story of the most powerful kings ever to rule in Europe with their glittering palaces and astounding art to go in them. He also reveals how art emerged from a struggle between tradition and revolution, between rulers and a people who didn't always want to be ruled. 

Starting with the first great revolution in art, the invention of Gothic architecture, he traces its development up until the arrival of classicism and the Age of Enlightenment - and the very eve of the revolution. Along the way some of the greatest art the world has ever seen was born, including the paintings of Poussin, Watteau and Chardin, the decadent rococo delights of Boucher and the great history paintings of Charles le Brun.

Art of France: Series 1

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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.

Andrew Graham Dixon takes viewers on a stunning visual journey through French art history.

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Art of France

Series 1

Episode 1: Plus Ça Change

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