Saturday 3 January 2015

Rubens' Bums

If you're into the Baroque bums of Peter Paul Rubens, here's the programme for you: Rubens: An Extra Large Story on BBC Two tonight at 8pm except Wales (CLICK). Boring and opinionated art critic Waldemar Januszczak is both presenter and director for this fleshy extravaganza, which doesn't bode well. Shown is Rubens' The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus (ca 1617). Argue your way out of that, Waldemar.

posted by Unknown @ 3.1.15   2 comments

2 Comments:

At 3/1/15, Anonymous Kris said...

Waldemar Januszczak as the presenter puts me off watching many art programmes that otherwise sound interesting. Andrew Graham Dixon has the same negative effect.

Are there any arts programme presenters with the unassuming presence of a David Attenborough?

 
At 5/1/15, Blogger Unknown said...

Hi, Kris

I absolutely agree, although I'll add that I find Prof. Simon Schama the worst of the bunch. I think it's the way academia and doctoral theses work that produces these unpleasant art experts. They don't have to present their theories in person, merely take stances after reading every pertinent reference. The more outrageous the stance, the more likely they are to be viewed as a new expert with something to say.

An art expert like David Attenborough would be a welcome change.

Fake or Fortune? works brilliantly because it has a glamorous presenter in Fiona Bruce, who doesn't pretend to know much abour art, a true expert in Philip Mould, who puts his money where his mouth is, and a technical expert in Dr Bendor Grosvenor, who knows his onions.

Did you see the one-off programme Dr Grosvenor made on a portrait of Bonny Prince Charlie?
http://coxsoft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/bonnie-prince.html

Fascinating.

I found Hermitage Revealed to be well worth viewing. It's repeated on Thursday.

 

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