Stories of Art

1066 and All That: The Bayeux Tapestry

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 J...

2026-09-08

Zazzage

Vincent van Gogh: Endgame in Auvers (Part 4)

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...

2026-09-01

Zazzage

Vincent van Gogh: Disaster in Arles (Part 3)

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 ...

2026-08-25

Zazzage

Vincent van Gogh: Becoming Vincent (Part 2)

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 ...

2026-08-18

Zazzage

Vincent van Gogh: The Outcast (Part 1)

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 chartin...

2026-08-11

Zazzage

Alberto Giacometti: The Rise of Stick Man (Part 2)

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 Dietri...

2026-08-04

Zazzage

Alberto Giacometti: The Boy from the Mountains (Part 1)

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? Joi...

2026-07-28

Zazzage

Vermeer's First Masterpiece: The Milkmaid

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, ...

2026-07-21

Zazzage

Frida Kahlo: A Star is Born (Part 3)

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...

2026-07-14

Zazzage

Frida Kahlo: The Elephant and the Dove (Part 2)

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 ...

2026-07-07

Zazzage

Frida Kahlo: The Girl on the Bus (Part 1)

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 wor...

2026-06-30

Zazzage

Michelangelo: The Master of Rome (Part 4)

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 th...

2026-06-23

Zazzage

David Hockney Tribute

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 i...

2026-06-17

Zazzage

Michelangelo: The Sistine Chapel Ceiling (Part 3)

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...

2026-06-16

Zazzage

Michelangelo: The Making of David (Part 2)

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 episode...

2026-06-09

Zazzage

Michelangelo: The Birth of a Genius (Part 1)

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 st...

2026-06-02

Zazzage

A Revolution in Ancient Art: The Bust of Nefertiti

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 Egyp...

2026-05-26

Zazzage

Francis Bacon: Triumph and Tragedy (Part 3)

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 ...

2026-05-18

Zazzage

Francis Bacon: Post War Success (Part 2)

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 Jame...

2026-05-12

Zazzage

Francis Bacon: The Emerging Artist (Part 1)

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 expl...

2026-05-05

Zazzage

Stories of Art

Sassa (31 sassa)

Podcast Masu Alaƙa