BBC4 - A History of Art in Three Colours

[Guest]

Tonight's programme was the second of three. And it was very, very good.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01lcz2s

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

it was very, very good.

It was, indeed.

Better, I thought, than the first (on Gold) which was "merely" very good.

[Mary Chambers]

It was wonderful, and I agree it was even better than the first one. Loved the Venice connection. I don't find, though, that people going into space have made much difference to my perception of blue. To me it still represents unattainable infinity.

What a perfect escape from the Olympics!

[Pianorak]

Excellent programme indeed, and am looking forward to the next one.

[jean]

I hoped he's mention Giotto's wonderful blue, star-studded ceiling in the Scrovegni Chapel. And of course he did.

But wasn't he wrong to say that it wasn't the sky, it was heaven? Surely for medieval people they amounted to the same thing!

[Nick Armstrong]

It was, indeed.

Better, I thought, than the first (on Gold) which was "merely" very good.

I'm halfway watching the 'Gold' on - interesting stuff. Second recorded and shall be watched this weekend

[Mary Chambers]

I hoped he's mention Giotto's wonderful blue, star-studded ceiling in the Scrovegni Chapel. And of course he did.

But wasn't he wrong to say that it wasn't the sky, it was heaven? Surely for medieval people they amounted to the same thing!

Yes, I wondered about that. For many people I think they still do!

Blue, white and gold immediately brought to mind the Catherine Palace outside St Petersburg -

http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/konstantinks/konstantinks1109/konstantinks110900543/10752791-catherine-palace-in-tsarskoe-selo-st-petersburg-russia.jpg

Why stop at these three colours? I know they have a particular magic, but I now want him to make programmes on the history of all other colours.

[Pianorak]

. . . I now want him to make programmes on the history of all other colours.

Greedy! But yes, it would be nice. Not sure a programme on black in art could be squeezed into one hour.

[amateur51]

Greedy! But yes, it would be nice. Not sure a programme on black in art could be squeezed into one hour.

Oh you could go on for an hour about black in Rothko's work alone

[salymap]

Sorry I missed the second programme and must catch up. Of course,the colours talked about are two of the main primary colours, from which all other colours are made and, with gold, used a lot in Heraldry, which I am very interested in

If you can get'Middle Ages in Colour', on the BBC Arts pages some time ago ,it is a revelation.I have it on my favourites but aren't clever enough to give a link.

[Nick Armstrong]

It was, indeed.

Better, I thought, than the first (on Gold) which was "merely" very good.

Totally agreed. The 'Gold' programme was fine, easy on the eye... I didn't learn much.

The 'Blue' programme is fascinating, learning all kinds of things! (Catching up, last 15 mins to watch)

'White' one on the box at the moment (going to record the HD version which is on in the early hours due to the Olympics)

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

...watched the last three quarters of White last night ... just brilliant as an essay on the role of purity in evil ...


telly as it oughta be eh?

[Resurrection Man]

I now realise that I'm not really a 'painting' type person. I got bored with Gold, enjoyed Blue ...marginally and have no intention of watching White. This weekend past thought I'd wander down to the Metamorphosis Titian exhibition on at the National Gallery as I quite like ballet and some modern art. Wandered in..wandered out. The ballet shot on film had too much emphasis on close-ups which is not what ballet is about.

I did see the painting ..or maybe one like it...referenced in Blue and thought ..."Ahah..know a bit about the blue "...but that was as far as it went.

Then I saw that the Flight out of Egypt was on display ...Titian's seminal (?) work...and was out from St Peterburg for the first time. So thought I'd take a butchers at that. Two blokes on a donkey. What's that all about?

Sorry...bit of a Philistine when it comes to ancient art.

[Pianorak]

...watched the last three quarters of White last night ... just brilliant as an essay on the role of purity in evil ...


telly as it oughta be eh?

A thought provoking essay – certainly. But didn't Dr Fox go just a bit too far with Duchamp's Urinal? The joke (subversive action?) surely was the urinal being called Fountain, but not its whiteness. Are there any urinals not white? I probably regret asking that question, but hey!

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

he did not mention the signature [black] a core element of the piece ....