Art of the Western World

Western Art 101. Beginning Art Appreciation, yet some details to interest even the aesthetically enlightened. Not conclusive, but an authoritative look worthy of university credit. 9 SUBTITLED episodes presented by art historian, Michael Wood. Many other art scholars are included as the viewer is carried into a film (not stills) of architecture and art pieces from Greece to yesterday's newest art encounter. Wood keeps the presentation at a vocabulary level suitable for most high-school age and above. Recommended for any art major/minor, or anyone taking an appreciation class, and of course art lovers.

Immediately this DVD set brought back my own personal art history experience of 1960s undergraduate art major days. I discovered this series is closely related to a text "History of Art" by H. W. Janson. That university art history text has been preserved by me now for 43 years and was consulted while viewing this DVD set. A Coordinating Producer for the "Art of the Western World" PBS documentary was Gail Janson. I suspect a connection, book-series. Film is an enhanced way to see a sculpture (all sides), painting (zoom), or architecture (interior and out)-- betters textbook photos.

Episodes are each almost an hour, SUBTITLED, and follow Parts and Chapters of the mentioned "History of Art" text. Text locations indicated in ( ).
1: The Classical Ideal
Greek & Roman impact on the world to follow. (Part 1 Chap. 5,7)
2 A white Garment of Churches: Romanesque and Gothic Art
Pilgrimage, cathedrals & monks manuscripts to Gothic flying buttresses & pointed arches. (Pt 2 Ch 3-4)
3 The Early Renaissance
Florence to Flemish oils (Pt 3 Ch 2)
4 The High Renaissance
Papal patronage & Venice; Leonardo & Michelangelo (Pt 3 Ch 3)
5 Realms of Light: the Baroque
First in Rome, then Austria & Germany; church & royalty; Rubens to Rembrandt (Pt 3 Ch 6-8)
6 An Age of Reason, an Age of Passion
Picturesque landscape & architecture; Rococo; neoclassicism; Romanticism (Pt 4 Ch 1)
7 A Fresh View: Impressionism and Postimpressionism
Manet Monet Degas Renoir, Van Gogh ... (Pt 4 Ch 2-3)
8 Into the 20th Century
Klimt Matisse Picasso Mondrian Frank Lloyd Wright... (Pt 4 Ch 4-5)
9 In Our Own Time
Post-modern Pollock to Warhol to women (text was prior to this time)

Bonus: viewers guide with more interesting information, related to but not repeating the DVDs
Text bios of Michael Wood and major artists; disc 1 Kritias & Nesiotes, Gislebertus, Filippo Brunelleschi, Jan van Eyck; disc 2 Leonardo, Andrea Palladio, Caravaggio, Jacques-Louis David; disc 3 Manet, Picasso, Corbusier, Pollock.

I strongly recommend this to the visual art enthusiast, educator, student, and patron. Regardless of prior knowledge, you will be enlightened, entertained, and enraptured with this intellectual collection. Also take a look at another fantastic art DVD set "Every Picture Tells A Story".
Consider H.W. Janson's "History of Art" text to read while watching PBS's "Art of the Western World."

Exceptional production, Great Host and great writing. Even prior to taking my first college history course on art, I had already viewed this exceptional work on PBS. Michael Wood is the perfect host and you can feel his enthusiasm while transported to each time period.
Wonderful commentary by leading art historians also add to the production.

I was very pleased this was made available on DVD. It has been freely available as a low resolution broadcast on the internet but it's nice to see the full glory of the new digital transfer. It may look dated due to the use of film initially,but it was an exceptional production.

I have to give this survey mixed reviews because it is so uneven. Each of the nine 55 min episodes (from the Greeks through Contemporary art) is written and directed by someone different.

Moreover, even though historian Michael Wood narrates all nine, each episode gives considerable time to individual art historians of particular periods and artists. So, for example, in episode 7, "Impressionism and Postimpressionism", one art historian gives a wonderfully accessible yet deeply informed commentary on Courbet, Manet and the Impressionists. And then another art historian takes over for the Postimpressionists, and gives a less accessible art jargon filled commentary.

In addition, some episodes try to cover too much and therefore move quickly, while others such as the one on the Baroque, the focus is kept on seven artists: Pietro di Cortona, Borromini, Bernini, Caravaggio, Velazquez, Rubens and Rembrandt, giving lots of screen time to the the paintings themselves, something I really appreciated.

And finally, the production values seem really dated, even though it is from the late 1980s. The production notes say they filmed in 150 locations in eight countries, at considerable cost. Any yet that is woven with other grainy stock footage of scenery.

All in all, though, it was worth watching, and the price is reasonable.