Art That Made Us

This opening episode challenges the notion of a dark age following the Roman withdrawal from Britain and instead reveals a dynamic period of artistic expression. Invasions reshape the Isles, leaving behind a legacy of exquisite jewelry, elaborate texts, and intricately carved stones. Artworks reflect battles over identity and faith, leading to the emergence of a new English language. Contemporary artists examine historical pieces. Sculptor Antony Gormley finds new meaning in the Spong Man figurine, while actor Michael Sheen performs a poem of resistance. The Aberlemno Stones and Staffordshire Hoard artifacts display a mix of pagan and Christian influences. "Lights in the Darkness" concludes with an in-depth analysis of the Anglo-Saxon Mappa Mundi and the Bayeux Tapestry, which offer surprising details about this period in British history.

''Revolution of the Dead'' explores the surge of creativity that emerged across the British Isles following the devastation of the Black Death. The plague challenged societal norms and theological convictions, as exemplified by the writings of Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich. Literature flourished, giving birth to iconic works like Chaucer's ''Canterbury Tales'' and Langland's ''Piers Plowman.'' This "Art That Made Us" episode is a reflection of the times, with carvings depicting social unrest and an unwavering faith in mystics. Music was not left behind, with Dunstaple's compositions establishing the transition from the medieval to the Renaissance periods. An urbanization movement, driven by a wave of artistic regeneration, saw 14th-century culture imprinted on the land.

In "Queens, Feuds, and Faith," David Threlfall narrates the 16th-century battle for religious dominance between Protestants and Catholics, exploring how art, language, and even fashion served as battlegrounds. Author Stephanie Merritt decodes the nationalist propaganda in John Foxe's "Book of Martyrs." The impact of colonialism is evident as William Shakespeare tackles race in "Othello." And William Morgan undertakes the ten-year task of translating the Bible into Welsh. Monarchs weren't above the fray, with Mary, Queen of Scots, weaving coded messages into her clothing to sway public opinion, and Queen Elizabeth I strategically using symbolic imagery. The Ora Singers perform the subversive Catholic work “Mass for Four Voices” by William Byrd, a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I.

"To Kill A King" explores the tumultuous period under the Stuart monarchs, where political, religious, and cultural rifts ignited wars across three kingdoms. Architect Amanda Levete ascends the Tulip Stairs in Greenwich’s Queen’s House, reassessing Inigo Jones' innovative design. Artist Tai Shan Schierenberg examines Van Dyck's portrait of the Earl of Pembroke's family, uncovering hints of the impending civil war. Artist Rita Duffy deciphers the venomous propaganda in Wenceslas Hollar’s "Teares of Ireland" woodcuts, while photographer Platon studies the Puritan aesthetic in Samuel Cooper’s raw miniature of Oliver Cromwell. This royalist-parliamentarian conflict, marked by bloodshed, ultimately led to a more inquisitive culture. The king's restoration spurred a creative surge in works, including by one of the first English women to earn a living by writing, Aphra Behn. Artist Angela Palmer admires Robert Hooke’s "Micrographia," and sculptor Thomas Heatherwick unveils Christopher Wren’s architectural brilliance in St. Paul’s dome.

"Consumers and Conscience" sheds light on a fascinating yet conflicted chapter in 18th-century Britain, a time of flourishing art and affluence fueled by the dark reality of the slave trade. This episode delves into the contradictions, showcasing opulent estates adorned with treasures funded by exploitation. Counterbalancing the extravagance, satirists like Jonathan Swift and William Hogarth lampooned the upper class's hypocrisies. A rising social conscience emerged during this era. Emma Bridgewater highlights potter Josiah Wedgwood's innovative anti-slavery campaigns using teapots and abolition medallions. Martin Rowson discusses James Gillray's pioneering political cartoons. The Georgian period was also a literary golden age, featuring Olaudah Equiano's powerful slavery narratives and Jane Austen's timeless novels.

''Rise Of The Cities'' depicts industry booming and the power balance shifting from rural to urban in 19th-century Britain, while its artists grapple with the changes. Some attempted to capture the poverty and squalor caused by rapid urbanization. Architect Fiona Sinclair examines Alexander Thomson's working-class housing in Glasgow, while Jeremy Deller spotlights William Morris’ efforts to bring nature back into Victorian homes through his hand-crafted wallpaper designs. Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson reflects on the inspiration of J.M.W. Turner, arguably the first environmental artist. Commerce influenced art, but individuality thrived. Penry Williams demonstrated how to find beauty in an industrial world with "Cyfarthfa Ironworks Interior at Night." Amrou Al-Kadhi delves into the sin and punishment evident in Oscar Wilde's plays and poems, while Shani Rhys James uncovers the silent rage in Sickert's "Camden Town Nudes."