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The Reith Lectures

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

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

16/10/1955

The Geography of Art

Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art

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

Nikolaus Pevsner explores the English national character as expressed in terms of art.

The art and architecture historian Nikolaus Pevsner asks why we study the history of art, and explores the English national character as it is expressed in terms of art.

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, Dr 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 first lecture, Dr Pevsner examines the reasons for the study of history of art. He argues that an understanding and appreciation of the work of the artist is truly life-enhancing, and he goes on to explore the English national character as it is expressed in terms of art.

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

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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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