TV
Private Life of a Masterpiece is a BBC arts documentary series that tells the stories behind great works of art reaching from the Renaissance to modern art. David by Michelangelo, The Scream by Edvard Munch, The Third of May 1808 by Francisco Goya, The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn, Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso, The Annunciation by Jan van Eyck, ... The Art of Painting by Johannes Vermeer. For behind the beautiful canvases and sculptures are tales of political revolution, wartime escapes, massive ego clashes, social scandal, financial wrangling and shocking violence. The series reveals the full and fascinating stories behind famous works of art, not just how they came to be created, but also how they influenced others and came to have a life of their own in the modern world.
Last Episode Aired
2010-10-25
S9E2 — Filippo Lippi: The Adoration of the Christ Child
Examining Filippo Lippi's Adoration of the Christ Child. Its beauty inspired Michelangelo and Botticelli, but it also conceals a personal story.
Billed Cast
Samuel West
Narrator
Check-In Log
Episode Watch Tracker
Check off episodes as you watch (saved in browser — sign in anytime to sync).
Loading season episodes...
Spoiler-Safe Screening Room
Episode & Series Discussions 0
Dedicated threads unlock on each episode's premiere day. Inline [spoiler] tags stay blurred until clicked.
Join the Screening Room
Sign in to post episode reactions, fan theories, and upvote community dispatches.
Loading discussion thread...
Audience Ledger
Community Micro-Reviews
Concise 1-sentence dispatches from DidItDrop members.
No micro-reviews yet — rate 1–4★ above and log the first 1-sentence take.
Double Feature
More Like This
Recommended titles paired with The Private Life of a Masterpiece.
