This series of programs presents an in-depth look at some of the greatest women artists of all time, with an informative look at their lives and numerous examples of their works while examining their styles which made them unique in the world of art. Also features spectacular imagery and many rare historical photographs. The set includes Mary Cassatt, Frida Kahlo, and Georgia O'Keeffe.

he Great Masters is an informative and entertaining series of programs which presents the life and works of the world's greatest artists. Filmed throughout Europe, these illuminating programs highlight each artist's major works set in an historical context which offers a deeper understanding of their art. Includes: Raphael, Michelangelo, Fra Angelico, Francesca, Caravaggio, Tintoretto, Van Dyck, and Strozzi.

Produced in 1988 in association with China Central Television, this three-part series is mainly a travelogue. Edmund Capon, who received his master's degree in Chinese Art and Archeology and became the director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, is the guide. The program follows him with his Chinese counterpart on a trip by boat, bus, and train around China. Views of the landscapes and people, as well as shots of specific sites such as Buddhist temples, predominate. The most beautifully filmed art objects are the Chinese porcelains, ceramic figures, and bronze vessels, yet these are limited in number and repeated throughout the series, and the many shots of Capon dressing, shaving, smoking a cigar, eating, and sleeping seem inappropriate to the subject matter. In his narration, Capon attempts to define what is quintessentially Chinese. For viewers who are interested in art history and the influence of history on art and culture, this series will be disappointing. While Capon says that the objects included in the program represent Chinese art, there are no comparisons with neighboring nations with long and venerable artistic traditions, such as Korea, which would help the viewer learn to distinguish what makes an art object specifically Chinese. Few charts are given, making it hard to follow the sequence of dynasties and the location of all the sites and landscapes. While the second and most cohesive and convincing program focuses on the influence of Buddhism on the art and people, examples of any Tibetan Buddhist sites or mention of Tibetan influences on Chinese art and architecture are conspicuously absent. [+]

This BBC series consists of five one-hour cassettes featuring 10 episodes of a masterful odyssey through early art, the Renaissance, and baroque art to romanticism, the age of revolution, and modernism. Lumpy, likable Sister Wendy Beckett guides us on a spirited tour of art through the ages that the entire family can savor and repeatedly enjoy. This woman is a scream-acerbic, astute, and surprisingly earthy. Oh yes, and very, very knowledgeable. Within each 30-minute program are several segments covering much canvas, but always in easily digestible amounts. This is perfect for the artistically deprived, the artfully minded, or anyone with a brain and a sense of humor. -Rochelle O'Gorman.

The National Gallery, London, houses one of the world's finest collections of western art. In this extraordinary series, Gallery Director Neil MacGregor offers viewers close-up-even x-ray-views of works by Rembrandt, Renoir, Holbein, and other masters. Encompassing centuries of great art, six beautifully illustrated programs trace the evolution of the painter's craft. Visits to the Gallery's Scientific and Conservation Departments shows how the artists' materials influenced their works and reveals the techniques that help preserve art for future generations.

Six new programs in the continually expanding series, "The Great Artists. " This unique series chronicles the lives, times and works of the greatest artists in history. Informative and entertaining, the series highlights important events in each artist's life, and explores their style, while providing detailed explanations of their techniques. The programs place each artist in historical context highlighting the events which inspired their work, providing a better understanding of the artist's creative process. Each program includes new on-location footage, as well as expert commentary and analyses by world renowned art experts. Includes Cezanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Munch, and Rousseau.

Six new programs in the continually expanding series, The Great Artists. This series chronicles the life, times, and works of the greatest artists in history. Includes the following 6 programs: Rembrandt, Vermeer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Bosch, and Bruegel.

Six new programs in the continually expanding series, "The Great Artists", which chronicle the life, times and works of the greatest Romantic and Realist artists in history. Informative and entertaining, this series highlights important events in each artist's life, and explores their style, while providing detailed explanations of their techniques. The programs place each artist in historical context highlighting the events which inspired their work, providing a better understanding of the artist's creative process. Each program includes new on-location footage, as well as expert commentary and analysis by world renowned art experts.

"What can we say about Americans from the things they've made? When we look at them through the lens of their art, what do we see?," host and acclaimed TIME magazine art critic Robert Hughes asks. This extraordinary series presents a panoramic view of American history as reflected by artists in every medium and genre, from "primitive" portraits of the Colonial era to the complex visions of the present day. Explore the luminous, almost sacred work of early-American landscape artists. The varied experiences of 19th century America appear in the paintings of John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt and Winslow Homer. Discover how a uniquely American modernism was forged at the 1913 Armory Show, and ponder the creative genius that blossomed during the '20s, the Depression years and the exciting, innovative periods following World War II. Titles are: "The Republic of Virtue," "The Promised Land," "The Wilderness and the West," "The Gilded Age," "A Wave from the Atlantic," "Streamlines and Breadlines," "The Empire of Signs," and "The Age of Anxiety. ".

For the first time on video, this new three-part series presents a comprehensive and in-depth look at the art of Russia. This landmark series explores the vast riches of Russian art, and features over 400 painters and more than 1,000 paintings in color from museums and collections around the world. Includes: The Classic Years, The Impressionist Years, and The Years of Art Nouveau.

Sister Wendy Beckett, a cloistered nun and Oxford-educated art scholar who became a most unlikely TV personality in Britain, takes an art appreciation tour across America, visiting six major art museums in this series from PBS. Strolling through the galleries in her flowing black habit, Sister Wendy looks like someone from another age, but her opinions are often quite modern. In the Metropolitan Museum in New York she speaks eloquently about native sculpture in the oceanic gallery as well as about works by great masters, and in Boston's Museum of Fine Arts she spends a few minutes discoursing about pop art and specifically Roy Lichtenstein's "Glass V. " At the Art Institute of Chicago she delivers a succinct lecture on Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks," noting how it was painted soon after Pearl Harbor and depicts a New York City rife with anxiety. She also visits the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and Fort Worth's Kimbell Art Museum. Sister Wendy's insights are entertaining, and she has a unique gift for communicating the joy one gets from appreciation of great art. -Robert J. McNamara Museums, like theaters and libraries, are a means to freedom. Here, we can move out of our personal anxieties and disappointments into the vast and stable world of human creativity. —Sister Wendy Beckett Sister Wendy Beckett comes to America for a spectacular tour that blends art, history, culture and storytelling into one delightful experience. [+]

This fascinating three-volume documentary series reveals beautiful works of Russian art, from ancient icon paintings to magnificent architecture, literature, and cinema rarely seen by Western eyes. More than this, though, it shows how Russian art and culture have throughout history reflected the soul of the Russian people and continues to define the Russian experience. Political, social, and spiritual themes heavily influence Russian art, and in turn these artistic offerings have had profound effects on the way Russia sees itself. Now that Russia has reached yet another turning point on its turbulent road to stability, the question seems to be how its art and culture will respond to the fading of communism and the freedom of expression that comes with democracy. Narrator James N. Billington suggests that the changes will show, as upheaval in Russia has always shown, the resilience of Russia's artistic community and its determination to find and express its voice to the world. Broad in scope and enlightening in its study of historical and current art trends, this series is a must-see for anyone interested in the Russian culture-it's a work that future generations will surely revisit for its insightful perspective. -Ed Noble For more than a millennium, political upheaval and outside forces have shaped Russia's culture. Now, as the dream of democracy unfolds, how will the Russian people redefine themselves? This magnificent three-part series illuminates the hearts, minds, and many faces of Russia by exploring her arts and culture. The Face of Russia is a remarkable journey across history, encompassing Russia's grand architecture, icon paintings, music, literature, and cinema. [+]

Home Vision Arts presents three of our most popular art programs in a breathtaking gift set devoted to the masters and masterpieces of Impressionism. When purchased as a box set you'll save 25% of individual pricing on these best-selling videos!.