'The Renaissance Unchained'
February 16 2016
Video: BBC
I watched the first episode of The Great Waldemar's new BBC4 series 'The Renaissance Unchained' last night. I thought it was excellent, and would urge you to catch it here on iPlayer.
Waldemar's main pitch is that the Italo-centric view of the Renaissance, the product of Vasari's Lives of the Painters, misses out the most important developments of the Renaissance, which took place in the Flanders, where, in the early 15th Century the development of painting in oil provided the real catalyst for the artistic advances of the Renaissance.
Now, I know not everyone is a fan of Waldemar's style. And even I sometimes wish his productions would spend a little more time on basic things like lighting (as seen in the clip above) and more stable camera work. But the key point about Waldemar's programmes is how they carry the viewer through the story with energy, excitement, and humour. Let's face it, how many art historians have ever made you laugh about Van Eyck's Arnolfini Marriage? Waldemar does, and I'm very much looking forward to the next three episodes. Personally, I'd have given him the Civilisation gig too. We may not always agree with his views, but at least with Waldemar we always get a fresh and diverting take on art. And that's what makes his programmes so watchable.
Here's an interview with Waldemar on why he's made the series.
