Stories of Art

What makes Georges Seurat's masterpiece 'A Sunday on La Grande Jatte -1884' so revolutionary? What does the picture mean? And why did it become so famous? Join Alastair and James as they explore the mysteries of one of the most beguiling paintings in the history of art.  If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: Georges Seurat, A Sunday on La Grand Jatte - 1884, 1884-86, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Georges Seurat, Bathers at Asnières 1884, The National Gallery, London Georges Seurat, The Diner, 1883-84, Private Collection Georges Seurat, Embroidery; The Artist's Mother, 1882-83, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, La Grande Odalisque, 1814, Musée du Louvre, Paris Eugène Delacroix, Jacob Wrestling with the Angel, 1854-61, Saint-Sulpice, Paris Pierre-Cécile Puvis de Chavannes, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, c.1869, The National Gallery, London Georges Seurat, Madame Seurat, the Artist's Mother, 1882-83, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles Georges Seurat, House at Dusk (La Cité), 1881-82, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Georges Seurat, Aman-Jean (Portrait of Edmond François Aman-Jean), 1882-83, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Georges Seurat, Seated Boy with Straw Hat, study for Bathers at Asnières, 1883-84, Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven Georges Seurat, Bathers (Study for "Bathers at Asnières"), 1883-84, National Gallery of Art, Washington D. C. Georges Seurat, Horse and Boats (Study for "Bathers at Asnières"), 1883-84, National Gallery of Art, Washington D. C. Georges Seurat, Boy from Behind, c.1893, Private Collection Arnold Böcklin, Isle of the Dead, 1880, Kunstmuseum, Basel Georges Seurat, The Couple: Study for La Grande Jatte, 1884, The British Museum, London Georges Seurat, La Grande Jatte, 1884, Private Collection Georges Seurat, Monkey, 1884, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Georges Seurat, The Channel at Gravelines, Evening, 1890, Museum of Modern Art, New York Recommended Reading: Alastair Sooke, Seurat: Bathers at Asnieres, 2025 Robert Herbert, Seurat: 1859-1891, 1991 Karen Serres, Seurat and the Sea, 2026 ————————— Follow Stories of Art on Instagram: @storiesofart.heni For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Social Producer: Grace Dewar Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

How did William Hogarth help create the modern art world as we know it?  Did he really stage the first conceptual art exhibition?  And why in the final years of his life was he the subject of ridicule? Join Alastair and James as they chart the life and times of the man that helped transform the story of British art.  If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: William Hogarth, O the Roast Beef of Old England (‘The Gate of Calais’), 1748, Tate Britain, London Canaletto, London Seen Through an Arch of Westminster Bridge, 1747, Private Collection Jean Siméon Chardin, The Ray, Musée du Louvre, Paris Jean Siméon Chardin, Still-Life with Cuts of Meat, 1730, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Bordeaux Anthony van Dyck, Lord John Stuart and His Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart, c.1638, National Gallery, London William Hogarth, George Arnold, 1738-40, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge William Hogarth, Heads of Six of Hogarth's Servants, c.1750-55, Tate Britain, London William Hogarth, Portrait of Captain Thomas Coram, c.1740, The Foundling Museum, London William Hogarth, Marriage A-la-Mode: Plates 1-6, 1743, National Gallery, London William Hogarth, Gin Lane, 1751 William Hogarth, Beer Street, 1751 William Hogarth, The Analysis of Beauty, 1753 William Hogarth, The Painter and his Pug, 1745, Tate Britain, London William Hogarth, Sigismunda Mourning over the Heart of Guiscardo, 1759, Tate Britain, London William Hogarth, The Bathos, 1764 Recommended Reading: Jenny Uglow, William Hogarth: A Life and a World, 1998 Mark Hallett, Hogarth, 2007 Jacqueline Riding, Hogarth: Life in Progress, 2022 ————————— Follow Stories of Art on Instagram: @storiesofart.heni For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Social Producer: Grace Dewar Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

How did William Hogarth transcend his humble origins to become one of the wealthiest artists in 18th century Britain? And in doing so, did he invent a new kind of art? Join Alastair and James as they chart the life and times of that most English of artists - William Hogarth. If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: William Hogarth, The Painter and his Pug, 1745, Tate, London William Hogarth, Hogarth's Shop Card, 1720 Marcellus Laroon, Sir James Thornhill, c.1712-15, National Maritime Museum, London Sir James Thornhill, The Painted Hall, 1707-26, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London William Hogarth, Self Portrait, c.1735, Yale Center for British Art, New Haven William Hogarth, Falstaff Examining his Recruits, 1730 William Hogarth, The Cholmondeley Family, 1732, Private Collection William Hogarth, A Harlot's Progress, Plates 1-6, 1732 William Hogarth, A Midnight Modern Conversation, c. 1732, Yale Center for British Art, New Haven Recommended Reading: Jenny Uglow, William Hogarth: A Life and a World, 1998 Mark Hallett, Hogarth, 2007 Jacqueline Riding, Hogarth: Life in Progress, 2022 ————————— Follow Stories of Art on Instagram: @storiesofart.heni For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Social Producer: Grace Dewar Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Is The Garden of Earthly Delights the strangest painting in all of art history? Is Bosch's bizarre masterpiece a vision of paradise or apocalyptic doom? And what's with all the giant fruit? Join Alastair and James as they dive headlong into the weird and wonderful world of Hieronymus Bosch. If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time.  Artworks in this episode: Hieronymus Bosch, The Garden of Earthly Delights, 1490-1500, Museo del Prado, Madrid Hieronymus Bosch, Christ Mocked (The Crowning with Thorns), c.1490/1510, The National Gallery, London Hieronymus Bosch, The Adoration of the Magi, c.1494, Museo del Prado, Madrid Salvador Dalí, The Great Masturbator, 1929, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid Recommended Reading: Matthijs Ilsink et al, Hieronymus Bosch, Painter and Draughtsman: Catalogue Raisonné, 2016 ————————— Follow Stories of Art on Instagram: @storiesofart.heni For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Social Producer: Grace Dewar Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

How did Lee Miller find her way into Hitler's apartment on the day his death was announced? And did what she witness in the Nazi concentration camps change her forever? Join Alastair and James as they conclude the story of one of art history's most remarkable photographers - Lee Miller. If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: Lee Miller, The Deputy Bürgermeister's daughter (Regina Lisso), 1945 Margaret Bourke-White, The Leipzig Suicides, 1945 Lee Miller, Fire Masks, London, England, 1941 Lee Miller, Non-conformist Chapel, 1940 Robert Capa, US troops assault Omaha Beach during the D-Day landings, 1944 Lee Miller, Bad Burns Case, 1944 Lee Miller, Beaten SS Prison Guard, 1945 Lee Miller, US soldiers examine a rail truck load of dead prisoners, 1945 Lee Miller, Dead SS Prison Guard Floating in Canal, 1945 Lee Miller and David E. Scherman, Lee Miller in Hitler's Bathtub, 1945 Lee Miller and David E. Scherman, David E. Scherman in Hitler's Bathtub, 1945 Recommended Reading: Anthony Penrose, The Lives of Lee Miller, 1985 Carolyn Burke, Lee Miller: On Both Sides of the Camera, 2006 ————————— Follow Stories of Art on Instagram: @storiesofart.heni For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Social Producer: Grace Dewar Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

How did Lee Miller transform herself from Jazz Age beauty to Surrealist photographer in 1930s Paris? And what lay behind her extraordinary capacity for reinvention? Join Alastair and James as they tell the first part of the remarkable story of the American model, artist, photojournalist and celebrity chef Lee Miller. If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: Lee Miller and David E. Scherman, Lee Miller in Hitler's Bathtub, 1945 Lee Miller, Charlie Chaplin with Chandelier, 1932 Lee Miller, Untitled (Severed Breast from Radical Surgery), c.1930 Man Ray, Indestructible Object (or Object to Be Destroyed), 1964 (replica of 1923 original), The Museum of Modern Art, New York Lee Miller, Joseph Cornell, c.1933 Lee Miller, From the Top of the Great Pyramid, 1938 Lee Miller, Portrait of Space, Al Bulyaweb, near Siwa, Egypt, 1937 Lee Miller, Eileen Agar, 1937 Lee Miller, Picnic, Mougins (Nusch and Paul Eluard, Roland Penrose, Man Ray and Ady Fidelin), 1937 Pablo Picasso, Lee Miller, 1937, Private Collection/National Galleries of Scotland Recommended Reading: Anthony Penrose, The Lives of Lee Miller, 1985 Carolyn Burke, Lee Miller: On Both Sides of the Camera, 2006 ————————— Follow Stories of Art on Instagram: @storiesofart.heni For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Social Producer: Grace Dewar Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

What does the Bayeux Tapestry tell us about the events of 1066? Did King Harold really get an arrow in the eye? And does the Tapestry really depict a bizarre medieval sex scandal?  Join Alastair and James as they tell the story of Bayeux Tapestry and explore what it tells us about the power of art to shape the historical imagination.  Follow Stories of Art on Instagram: @storiesofart.heni If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: The Bayeux Tapestry, 11th century  Recommended Reading: The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry: Unravelling the Norman Conquest by David Musgrove and Michael Lewis, 2026 For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Laura Sovilla Social Producer: Grace Dewar Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Did Vincent van Gogh intend to kill himself? How would his art have developed if he had lived even just a few months more? And what role did his sister-in-law, Jo van Gogh-Bonger, play in establishing his reputation? Join Alastair and James as they chart the final, tragic years in the life and art of Vincent van Gogh. Follow Stories of Art on Instagram: @storiesofart.heni If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night, 1889, Museum of Modern Art, New York Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889, Courtauld Gallery, London Vincent van Gogh, Self-portrait with bandaged Ear and Pipe, 1889, Private Collection Vincent van Gogh, Irises, 1889, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California Vincent van Gogh, Wheat Field with Cypresses, 1889, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City Vincent van Gogh, Almond Blossom, 1890, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Vincent van Gogh, Portrait of Doctor Gachet, 1890, Private Collection Vincent van Gogh, Portrait of Dr. Gachet, 1890, Musée d'Orsay, Paris Vincent van Gogh, Tree Roots, 1890, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Vincent van Gogh, Wheatfield with Crows, 1890, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Social Producer: Grace Dewar Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

What led to Vincent van Gogh's breakdown in December 1888? What role did Paul Gauguin play in Vincent's mental health crisis? And just how much of his ear did Vincent cut off? Join Alastair and James as Stories of Art transforms into a true crime podcast and delivers a blow-by-blow account of one of the most infamous events in the history of art. Follow Stories of Art on Instagram: @storiesofart.heni If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh Painting Sunflowers, 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Vincent van Gogh, Self-portrait dedicated to Paul Gauguin, 1888, Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Harvard Vincent van Gogh, The Yellow House, 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Vincent van Gogh, The Bedroom, 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Paul Gauguin, Portrait of Mette Gauguin, 1877, Courtauld Institute of Art, London Paul Gauguin, Vision after the Sermon (Jacob Wrestling with the Angel), 1888, Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1888, The National Gallery, London Vincent van Gogh, Van Gogh's Chair, 1888, The National Gallery, London Vincent van Gogh, Gauguin's Chair, 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

How did Vincent van Gogh find his signature style? And what inspired him to create his famous sequence of Sunflowers paintings in 1888? Join Alastair and James in the second of four episodes charting the life and work of Vincent van Gogh, as they explore a period of extraordinary creativity in the artist's career. Follow Stories of Art on Instagram: @storiesofart.heni If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait as a Painter, 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Adolphe Monticelli, Sunset, c. 1882-84, The National Gallery, London Utagawa Hiroshige, Sudden Shower over Shin-Ōhashi Bridge and Atake, 1857 Vincent van Gogh, Père Tanguy, 1887, Musée Rodin, Paris Vincent van Gogh, Portrait of the Postman Joseph Roulin, 1888, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Vincent van Gogh, A Pair of Shoes, 1888, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait Dedicated to Paul Gauguin, 1888, Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Harvard Vincent van Gogh, The Yellow House, 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Vincent van Gogh, Café Terrace at Night, 1888, Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo Vincent van Gogh, The Night Café, 1888, Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven Vincent van Gogh, Starry Night Over the Rhône, 1888, Musée d'Orsay, Paris Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1888, The National Gallery, London Vincent van Gogh, Vase with Five Sunflowers, 1888, destroyed 1945 Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1889, Sompo Museum of Art, Tokyo Vincent van Gogh, Three Sunflowers in a Vase, 1888, Private Collection Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1888, Neue Pinakothek, Munich Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1889, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1889, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Thanks to Thames & Hudson for Vincent van Gogh: A Life in Letters, 2022 For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Why are the paintings of Vincent van Gogh so universally popular? And how close did Vincent come to being a preacher instead of an artist? Join Alastair and James in the first of four episodes charting the life and work of the man who has come to define our idea of the struggling, tortured artist - Vincent van Gogh. If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889, The Courtauld Gallery, London Vincent van Gogh, Pollard Birches, 1884, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Vincent van Gogh, The Potato Eaters, 1885, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Thanks to Thames & Hudson for Vincent van Gogh: A Life in Letters, 2022 For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

How does the art of Alberto Giacometti manage to encapsulate the angst of the human condition? And did he really have an affair with one of the greatest film stars of the 20th century - Marlene Dietrich? Join Alastair and James as they wrestle with the mysterious power that lies at the heart of Alberto Giacometti's art. 'Alberto Giacometti. Faces and Landscapes of Home', Hauser & Wirth St. Moritz, 13 December 2025 – 28 March 2026 If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: Alberto Giacometti, Dog, 1951 [cast 1957] Alberto Giacometti, Man Pointing, 1947 Alberto Giacometti, Walking Man I, 1960 Alberto Giacometti, Caroline, 1961 Photo Credit: Emmy Andriesse, Alberto Giacometti, 1948 For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Laura Sovilla Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Why do many regard the Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti as the greatest sculptor of the 20th century? And why did he spectacularly fall out with the leader of the Surrealist movement, André Breton? Join Alastair and James as they explore the austere and often bizarre world of Alberto Giacometti. 'Alberto Giacometti. Faces and Landscapes of Home', Hauser & Wirth St. Moritz, 13 December 2025 – 28 March 2026 If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: Alberto Giacometti, Walking Man I, 1960 Alberto Giacometti, Spoon Woman, 1927 Alberto Giacometti, Suspended Ball, 1930-31 Alberto Giacometti, The Palace at 4 a.m., 1932 Alberto Giacometti, Woman with Her Throat Cut (Femme égorgée), 1932 For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Laura Sovilla Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Who was Vermeer? And why is his painting of a humble kitchen maid considered one of the greatest achievements of the Dutch Golden Age? Is The Milkmaid laden with hidden religious and erotic meanings, or simply a perfectly realised depiction of everyday life? Join Alastair and James as they unravel the many mysteries of Vermeer's first masterpiece. If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode: Johannes Vermeer, The Milkmaid, 1657-58, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam Gerard ter Borch, The Letter, 1660-65, The Royal Collection, London Jan Steen, The Feast of St. Nicholas, 1663-65, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam Carel Fabritius, A View of Delft, with a Musical Instrument Seller's Stall, 1652, The National Gallery, London Johannes Vermeer, Saint Praxedis, c.1655, National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo Johannes Vermeer, The Procuress, 1656, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden Johannes Vermeer, Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window, c. 1657-59, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden Domenico Fiasella, Queen Artemisia, c. 1645, Private Collection For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram and Laura Sovilla Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac 00:00 Introduction: The Milkmaid 05:35 The Dutch Golden Age and Delft 08:57 Vermeer's Early Life and Family 21:51 Vermeer's Early Works 28:19 Analyzing The Milkmaid 45:22 Meaning and Interpretation 1:02:41 The 1660s: Vermeer at His Peak 1:03:31 The Disaster Year and Vermeer's Death

What led to Frida Kahlo's early death? And with Frida mania in full swing, have we now reached peak Frida? Join Alastair and James in the final episode on the life and work of the great Mexican artist, as they explore her difficult final years and her extraordinary afterlife.  Frida: The Making of an Icon is on at Tate Modern, London until 3rd January 2027. If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time.  Artworks in this episode:  Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair, 1940, The Museum of Modern Art, New York Frida Kahlo, The Broken Column, 1944, Museo Dolores Olmedo, Xochimilco, Mexico City Frida Kahlo, The Wounded Deer, 1946, Private collection For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram and Laura Spada Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

How did Frida Kahlo manage to emerge from the shadow of her husband, the artist Diego Rivera? And how did a dog with a sock in its mouth lead to the discovery of an affair? Join Alastair and James in the second of three episodes about the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, as they explore her tumultuous life in the 1930s and the development of her singular style of art. Artworks in this episode include: Frida Kahlo, Frieda and Diego Rivera, 1931, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco Frida Kahlo, Henry Ford Hospital, 1932, Dolores Olmedo Museum, Xochimilco, Mexico City Frida Kahlo, My Birth, 1932, Dolores Olmedo Museum, Xochimilco, Mexico City Frida Kahlo, A Few Small Nips, 1935 Dolores Olmedo Museum, Xochimilco, Mexico City Frida Kahlo, The Two Fridas, 1939, Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Frida: The Making of an Icon is on at Tate Modern, London until 3rd January 2027. Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram and Laura Spada Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Elephant and the Dove 00:06:24 Diego's Infidelities 00:12:45 San Francisco and Detroit 00:20:08 Henry Ford Hospital and My Birth 00:41:32 A Few Small Nips 00:45:08 Frida's Affairs 00:51:58 Artistic Breakthrough 00:59:10 The Two Fridas

How did a bus crash change the course of art history? And what is the truth behind Frida Kahlo's family origins? Join Alastair and James as they embarked on a new three part series on the life and work of one of the world's most celebrated artists - Frida Kahlo. Artworks in this episode include: Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, 1940, Nickolas Muray Collection of Mexican Art, Harry Ransom Center, Austin, Texas Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait (With Velvet Dress), 1926, Private Collection For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Frida: The Making of an Icon is on at Tate Modern, London until 3rd January 2027. Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Why was Michelangelo's Last Judgement seen as so controversial in his lifetime? And what, ultimately, has been his influence on the history of art? Join Alastair and James as they tell the story of the last few extraordinary decades in the life of Michelangelo. Artworks in this episode include: Michelangelo, The Laurentian Library, 1525-50 Copy after Michelangelo, Ganymede, 16th Century Luca Signorelli, The Damned in Hell, 1500-03, Orvieto Cathedral, Orvieto Michelangelo, The Last Judgement, 1535–1541, Vatican City Michelangelo, Study for The Last Judgement, 1535–1541, The British Museum, London Etienne DuPérac, Longitudinal Section Showing the Interior of Saint Peter's Basilica Etienne DuPérac, Piazza del Campidoglio designed by Michelangelo Michelangelo, Rondanini Pietà, 1552-64, Castello Sforzesco, Milan For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Flayed Skin Self-Portrait 00:05:15 The Sack of Rome 00:07:17 Michelangelo's Republican Sympathies 00:17:04 Tommaso di Cavalieri 00:22:45 The Last Judgment Commission 00:37:38 Master Architect 00:42:40 The Final Years 00:48:01 The Rondanini Pietà 00:54:34 Legacy: The Prototype of Artistic Genius

David Hockney, who died last week, was a giant of British art. In this special episode, Alastair and James pay tribute to the late, great artist. Photo Credit: Jean-Pierre Goncalves De Lima Artworks in this episode include: David Hockney, We Two Boys Together Clinging, 1961 David Hockney, The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020 David Hockney, Mother, Bradford. 19 Feb 1979, 1979 David Hockney, J-P Gonçalves de Lima, 11th, 12th, 13th July 2013, 2013 David Hockney, The Big Hawthorn, 2008 David Hockney, Winter Timber, 2009 David Hockney, Beverly Hills Housewife, 1966-67 David Hockney, A Bigger Splash, 1967 David Hockney, Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, 1970-71 David Hockney, Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy, 1968 Piero della Francesca, The Baptism of Christ, c.1437-45 David Hockney, My Parents, 1977 David Hockney, My Parents and Myself, 1976 David Hockney, Pearblossom Hwy., 11-18th April 1986 (Second Version), 1986 David Hockney, A Year in Normandie, 2020-2021 David Hockney, Bigger Trees Near Warter, 2007 David Hockney, Delphiniums on My Garden Table, July 2025, 2025 For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 News of Hockney's Death 00:03:06 An Artist of Joy 00:08:45 A National Treasure and Cultural Icon 00:15:06 California and Double Portraits 00:21:11 Yorkshire Landscapes 00:27:06 How to Look

The Sistine Chapel ceiling is arguably the most famous work of art in the world, but why was Michelangelo so reluctant to take on the commission? And just what is it about his art that has led so many regard him as a genius? Join Alastair and James in the third of four episodes charting the remarkable life and work of Michelangelo. Artworks in this episode include: Attributed to Daniele da Volterra, Portrait of Michelangelo, c.1545, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Raphael, Portrait of Julius II, 1511, The National Gallery, London Michelangelo, The Sistine Chapel Ceiling, 1508-1512, Vatican CIty Michelangelo, Moses, 1513-15, Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome Michelangelo, The Awakening Slave, 1530, Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence Michelangelo, The Bearded Slave, 1530, Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence Michelangelo, Atlas, 1530, Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence Michelangelo, The Rebellious Slave, 1513-15, Musée du Louvre, Paris For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Commission 00:03:56 The Sistine Chapel Building 00:07:58 Michelangelo's Reluctance 00:18:14 Early Struggles 00:30:14 The Creation of Adam 00:44:16 Moses 00:58:42 The Unfinished Sculptures

Why was Michelangelo's David such a revolutionary work of art? And what happened when Michelangelo and Leonardo went head to head on a commission? Join Alastair and James in the second of four episodes charting the life and work of Michelangelo, who many regard as history's greatest artist. Artworks in this episode include: Michelangelo, David, 1501-04, Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence Attributed to Daniele da Volterra, Portrait of Michelangelo, c.1545, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. After Leonardo, Copy of The Battle of Anghiari, 17th century, Musée du Louvre, Paris Bastiano da Sangallo after Michelangelo, Copy of The Battle of Cascina, 1542, Royal Academy, London. For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:04:34 A Block of Marble 00:12:17 Michelangelo Takes on the Challenge 00:16:44 Where to Place David 00:19:50 Moving the Giant 00:22:41 Analyzing David 00:33:22 Michelangelo's Character 00:40:40 Rivalry with Leonardo da Vinci 00:50:20 Pope Julius II and the Tomb Commission 00:55:55 The Great Escape from Rome

Was Michelangelo the greatest artist that ever lived? And where did he learn his unrivalled mastery of marble? Join Alastair and James as they embark on the first of four episodes charting the epic story of the life and work of Michelangelo, known in his lifetime as Il Divino - the divine one. To see images of the works James and Alistair are discussing in this episode, make sure to switch to video in your podcast app. Artworks in this episode include: Michelangelo, The Creation of Adam, The Sistine Chapel Ceiling, c.1512, Vatican City Michelangelo, Head of a Faun, c.1489 (lost 1944) Michelangelo, Bacchus, 1496-97, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence Michelangelo, Pietà, 1499, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Creation of Adam 00:08:58 Early Life 00:18:23 Apprenticeship with the Ghirlandaio Brothers 00:22:10 The Medici Academy and Lorenzo the Magnificent 00:27:03 The Head of a Faun: A Precocious Talent 00:33:47 Crisis and Exile: The Fall of the Medici 00:37:49 The Sleeping Cupid Forgery 00:40:56 Rome and Cardinal Riario 00:44:55 The Pietà 00:55:14 Rising Fame

It's one of the most recognisable artworks of the ancient world, but who was Queen Nefertiti? And how did she and her consort, the Pharaoh Akhenaten, revolutionise the art and religion of Ancient Egypt? Join Alastair and James as they explore the mesmerisingly beautiful Bust of Nefertiti.   To see the images from this podcast, please switch to video in your podcast app, at any time. Artworks in this episode include: The Bust of Nefertiti, c. 1351-34 BCE, Neues Museum, Berlin Tomb of Nebamun and Ipuky, 1391-53 BCE, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Statue of Amenhotep III, 1391-53 BCE, The British Museum, London Colossal Statue of Amenhotep IV, 1350-33 BCE, The Egyptian Museum, Cairo Colossal Statue of Amenhotep IV, 1350-33 BCE, Luxor Museum, Luxor Akhenaten, Nefertiti and three of their daughters under the Aten, c. 1351-34 BCE, Neues Museum, Berlin Bust of Akhenaten, c. 1351-34 BCE, Neues Museum, Berlin Plaster Head of an Older Woman, c.1353-36 BCE, Neues Museum, Berlin For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Discovery of Nefertiti 00:02:14 The Archaeological Dig at Amarna 00:06:14 Ancient Egyptian Art and Society 00:12:50 Amenhotep IV Comes to Power 00:16:51 The Religious Revolution 00:23:31 A New Artistic Style 00:34:35 The New Capital City 00:46:46 The Bust of Nefertiti 00:57:35 Authenticity Debates 01:04:17 The End of the Amarna Period 01:08:22 The Controversial Journey to Berlin 01:13:37 Modern Legacy

Following the death of his lover, did Bacon paint one of the darkest paintings in the history 20th century art? And why is opinion so split on Bacon's late work? Join Alastair and James as they argue it out in the last episode on the life and work of one of art history's most colourful characters - Francis Bacon. To see the artworks from this episode, click switch to video wherever you get your podcasts. Artworks in this episode include: Micheal Andrews, The Colony Room I, 1962, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester Francis Bacon, Portrait of Lucian Freud, 1951, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Francis Bacon, Henrietta Moraes, 1966, Private Collection Francis Bacon, Version No. 2 of Lying Figure with Hypodermic Syringe, 1968, Private Collection Francis Bacon, Miss Muriel Belcher, 1959, Private Collection Francis Bacon, Triptych, May–June 1973, 1973, Private Collection Francis Bacon, Study of the Human Body, 1981-82, Musée national d'Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris Francis Bacon, Second Version of Triptych 1944, 1988, Tate Gallery, London Francis Bacon, Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, 1944, Tate Gallery, London Francis Bacon, Blood on the Floor - Painting, 1986, Private Collection Francis Bacon, Three Studies for Self-Portrait, 1983, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Which portrait by the 17th century Spanish master Velázquez inspired one of Bacon's most celebrated works? And why is his painting Two Figures considered a groundbreaking image? Join Alastair and James as they chart Bacon's life and work in the decades after the Second World War. If you want to see the artworks referenced in this episode - check the images out by switching to video on your podcast app. Artworks in this episode include: Francis Bacon, Head VI, 1949, Arts Council Collection, London Francis Bacon, Painting 1946, 1946, Museum of Modern Art, New York Francis Bacon, Portrait of Lucian Freud, 1951, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Lucian Freud, Portrait of Francis Bacon, 1952 Francis Bacon, Head I, 1949, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Francis Bacon, Head II, 1949, Ulster Museum, Belfast Francis Bacon, Head III, 1949, Private Collection Diego Velázquez, Las Meninas, 1656, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid Diego Velázquez, Portrait of Innocent X, 1650, Galleria Doria Pamphilj, Rome Francis Bacon, Man in Blue I, 1954, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam Francis Bacon, Two Figures, 1953, Private Collection For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Head VI 00:02:43 Painting 1946: Consolidating Success 00:09:13 Meaning in Bacon's Art 00:11:47 Graham Sutherland and Erica Brausen 00:13:44 Monte Carlo: Gambling and Drift 00:19:04 Lucian Freud: An Intense Friendship 00:26:00 The 1949 Hanover Gallery Show 00:30:59 Velázquez's Pope Innocent X 00:35:25 Head VI 00:42:02 Peter Lacy: The Love of His Life 00:51:54 The Tate Retrospective and Tragedy

How did the horrors of the Second World War influence Francis Bacon's first great masterpiece? And what impact did his troubled childhood have on his life and art? Join Alastair and James as they explore the early life and work of one Britain's greatest artists. If you would like to see the artworks James and Alistair reference in this episode, please switch to video in your podcast app. Artworks in this episode include: Francis Bacon, Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, 1944, Tate Gallery, London Francis Bacon, Crucifixion, 1933, Private Collection For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

How did the gruesome aftermath of a shipwreck inspire a masterpiece of Romantic art? And did Théodore Géricault really acquire body parts so he could capture the appearance of rotting flesh? Join Alastair and James as they tell the true story of a doomed ship and an extraordinary painting that laid bare the depths of humanity - The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault. If you want to see the artworks referenced in this podcast, remember you can switch to video wherever you are listening to your podcasts. Artworks in this episode include: Théodore Géricault, The Raft of the Medusa, 1819, Louvre, Paris Horace Vernet, Portrait of Théodore Géricault, c.1823, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City Théodore Géricault, An Officer of the Imperial Horse Guards Charging, 1812, Louvre, Paris To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Why is Hokusai's Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji so popular? And just how influential were his images on the development of Western art? Join Alastair and James as they explore the final tumultuous, and endlessly creative, decades of Hokusai's long life. If you would like to see the artworks included in this episode, switch to video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode include: Hokusai, Ejiri in Suruga Province, 1830 Hokusai, Under the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave), 1831 Hokusai, Fine Wind, Clear Morning, 1831 Katsushika Ōi, Nightscene in the Yoshiwara, 1860 Tsuyuki Kōshō, Hokusai and Eijo in their lodgings, before 1893 Hokusai, Tiger in the Snow, 1849 To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:19 Hokusai's Artistic Credo 00:03:52 36 Views of Mount Fuji 00:14:58 The Great Wave off Kanagawa 00:30:02 Fire and Tragedy 00:39:13 Final Years 00:43:13 Death and Legacy 00:51:41 The Eternal Wave

It’s one of the most recognisable images in all of art history, but who was the artist behind The Great Wave? And how did the military dictatorship of the Tokugawa shogunate create the conditions for his art to flourish? Join Alastair and James as they travel to Edo era Japan to explore the truly extraordinary life and work of Katsushika Hokusai. If you want to see the artworks being discussed in this podcast, please switch to video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode include: Hokusai, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, 1831 Keisai Eisen, Portrait of Katsushika Hokusai, before 1848 Hokusai, The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife, 1814 Hokusai, Manga, 1814-19 To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

How did Artemisia Gentileschi become the first woman to be elected to Florence's Academy of Arts? And why did she end up in London working as court painter to Charles I? Join Alastair and James as they explore how Artemisia continued to forge her own path in the final decades of her remarkable life. If you would like to see the artworks being discussed in this podcast, switch to video in your podcast app at anytime. Artworks in this episode include: Artemisia Gentileschi, Self-Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria, c. 1616, National Gallery, London Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Beheading Holofernes c. 1620, Uffizi Gallery, Florence Orazio Gentileschi, Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes, 1624, Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford Caravaggio, Judith Beheading Holofernes c. 1599, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome Artemisia Gentileschi, Self-Portrait as an Allegory of Painting, c. 1638, The Royal Collection To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Spirit of Caesar in the Soul of a Woman 00:02:34 Judith Beheading Holofernes 00:09:25 The Revenge Debate: Art and Biography 00:14:38 The Love Letters: Francesco Maria Maringhi 00:21:14 Return to Rome and Marriage Breakdown 00:23:03 Venice and the Plague: Moving Through Italy 00:27:11 Naples and the Cabal 00:33:20 Journey to England: Painting for Charles I 00:35:07 The Self-Portrait: Artemisia or Prudentia? 00:39:00 Final Years in Naples and Legacy

What lies behind the powerful artworks of Artemisia Gentileschi, one of history's greatest female artists? And how did the trauma of a horrifying rape impact her life and work? Join Alastair and James as they explore the truly extraordinary life and art of Artemisia Gentileschi, today recognised as one of the key figures of the Italian Baroque. If you would like to see the artworks being discussed in this podcast, feel free to switch to video in your podcast app at anytime. Artworks in this episode include: Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Beheading Holofernes c. 1620, Uffizi Gallery, Florence Orazio Gentileschi, Annunciation, 1623, Galleria Sabauda, Turin Artemisia Gentileschi, Susanna and the Elders, 1610, Schloss Weißenstein, Pommersfelden To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Artemisia Gentileschi 00:03:55 Early Life in Rome: A Family of Artists 00:06:49 Childhood Tragedy and Growing Up Fast 00:08:07 Becoming an Artist: Determination and Talent 00:10:06 Susanna and the Elders: A Remarkable First Painting 00:20:52 The Rape 00:27:34 The Trial 00:31:22 Escape to Florence: Marriage and New Beginnings 00:34:08 Florence Years: Tragedy and Triumph

He was the star of the 1980s New York art scene, but was Jean-Michel Basquiat a truly great artist or the product of a booming art market? And why did one of his works sell for more than $110 million? Join Alastair and James as they explore the meteoric rise and tragic fall of one of the most distinctive artists of the 1980s. If you want to see the artworks being discussed in this podcast, please switch to video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode include: Jean-Michel Basquiat Untitled, 1982 Acrylic, spray paint and oil stick on canvas, 183,2 × 173 × 4,8 cm © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s, Inc. 2025 Jean-Michel Basquiat Untitled, 1982 Oilstick on paper, 75.9 x 56.5 cm. Private Collection. © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York. Photo: Courtesy of Colour Themes. Jean-Michel Basquiat Mosquito Coil, 1982 Oilstick, graphite and charcoal on paper, 76.2 x 109.2 cm, Private Collection. © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York. Photo: Courtesy of Colour Themes. The exhibition "Basquiat-Headstrong" is on at Louisiana, Denmark between 30 January - 17 May 2026. To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:06:19 Middle Class Brooklyn Beginnings 00:08:15 Car Accident and Grey's Anatomy 00:11:38 Family Breakdown and Teenage Rebellion 00:16:42 SAMO: The Birth of a Street Artist 00:15:45 New York in Crisis 00:24:01 Breakthrough: New York New Wave 00:34:15 The Breakthrough Year: 1982 00:37:37 Analyzing Untitled, 1982 00:44:05 Stardom: From Street to Celebrity 00:47:36 Warhol: Mentor, Friend, and Collaborator 00:53:45 Drugs and Decline 00:57:03 Death and Legacy

How did Hans Holbein survive the court of Henry VIII when so many around him were executed? What was his influence on how we see the Tudors? Join Alastair and James to find out how Holbein survived one of the most tumultuous periods in English history and emerge as one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance. If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode include: Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of the Artist's Family, 1528-9, Kunstmuseum, Basel Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors, 1533, The National Gallery, London Remigius van Leemput, after Hans Holbein the Younger, Whitehall Mural, 1667, The Royal Collection Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Christina of Denmark, 1538, The National Gallery Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Anne of Clèves, 1539, Musée du Louvre, Paris To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Holbein's Portrait of Henry VIII 00:01:59 Recap: Holbein's First Journey to England 00:02:46 Return to Basel: The Reformation and Iconoclasm 00:05:44 Family Life and Departure for England 00:10:33 England in Crisis: Henry VIII and the Break from Rome 00:13:35 The Hanseatic Merchants 00:14:32 The Ambassadors: Holbein's Masterpiece 00:25:24 Becoming the King's Painter 00:27:21 The Whitehall Mural: Creating the Iconic Image of Henry VIII 00:34:23 The Pimp's Scout: Painting Potential Brides 00:37:31 Christina of Denmark 00:43:16 Anne of Cleves 00:45:06 Holbein's Genius 00:48:46 Death, Legacy, and the Double Family 00:52:34 Conclusion: The Power of Images

How did Hans Holbein become court painter to Henry VIII, one of the most notorious monarchs in British history? Without his stunning portraits would the Tudor period burn so brightly in the imagination? Join Alastair and James to find out how Holbein, an artist from a small town in southern Germany ended up kickstarting the story of British art. If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this episode include: Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors, 1533, The National Gallery, London Hans Holbein the Younger, Self Portrait, c.1542-43, Uffizi Gallery, Florence Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam, 1523, The National Gallery, London Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Sir Thomas More, 1527, Frick Collection, New York Hans Holbein the Younger, Study for a Portrait of Thomas More’s Family, c. 1527, Kunstmuseum, Basel To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Ambassadors and Holbein's Legacy 00:04:36 Early Life in Augsburg: A Family of Artists 00:09:54 Moving to Basel 00:12:03 Holbein the Man: Brawls and Beer 00:16:08 The Erasmus Portraits: A Career-Defining Commission 00:26:48 Journey to England: From Basel to the Tudor Court 00:30:13 Tudor England: A Provincial Power with Growing Ambitions 00:34:13 Sir Thomas More: Holbein's First Great English Patron 00:41:12 The Greenwich Revels 00:46:47 Departure from England: An Unfinished Story

When Monet’s Impression, Sunrise was displayed at the First Impressionist Exhibition in 1874 it inspired one critic to scornfully describe the artists on show as ‘Impressionists’. And so the name of one of the most successful movements in the history of art was born. But was the success of the First Impressionist Exhibition more fiction than fact? Was it really a groundbreaking moment in art history or just a chance for some impoverished young artists to make a bit of cash? Join James and Alastair to find out. If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this week’s episode include: Edgar Degas, At the Races in the Countryside, 1869, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Pierre-Auguste Renoir, La Loge (The Theatre Box), 1874, The Courtauld Gallery, London Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Recap of Part 1 00:00:44 Walking down the Boulevard des Capucines 00:04:27 Inside the Exhibition Space 00:07:37 A Diverse and Eclectic Show 00:10:21 Degas: At the Races in the Countryside 00:13:29 Renoir: The Theatre Box (La Loge) 00:18:09 Monet: Impression Sunrise - The Painting 00:23:33 The Science Behind the Sun 00:28:21 What Makes It Impressionist? 00:31:43 Critical Reception and the Birth of a Name 00:43:38 Financial Failure and Dissolution 00:45:23 Legacy

In 1870s Paris a group of radical young artists led by Monet, Degas and Renoir decide to take on the art establishment and stage their own exhibition, independent of the enormous state-run art show - the Salon. It was a completely new idea that would transform how artists showed their work forever. But first they need to find a venue and recruit more artists to their cause. Then there’s the nagging question - how are they going to pay for it all? And when it finally opens, will anyone come? Join James and Alastair as they tell the story of the First Impressionist Exhibition of 1874, a turning point in the history of art that marked the beginning of a now world-famous art movement - Impressionism. If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time. Artworks in this week’s episode include: Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris Jean-Léon Gérôme, L'Éminence Grise, 1873, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Edouard Manet, The Railway, 1873, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Ludovic-Napoléon Lepic, Jupiter, 1861 For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Monet's Impression Sunrise 00:05:21 Second Empire France in Crisis 00:10:28 Understanding the Salon System 00:19:17 The 1874 Salon: Conservative vs. Progressive Art 00:31:37 Formation of the Société Anonyme 00:37:41 Nadar's Studio: The Perfect Venue 00:41:57 Preparing for the Exhibition 00:44:26 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

Stories of Art brings together art historian Dr. James Fox and art critic Alastair Sooke to uncover the most inspiring and compelling stories from the history of art. From the lives of the world’s greatest artists to the turning points that changed art, to the hidden histories of great masterpieces, James and Alastair are your guides to the extraordinary characters and fascinating stories that have shaped art history.   Full of insight, expert opinion and humour, Stories of Art is the ultimate deep dive into the history of art.