The Glory of Byzantium
Andrew Graham-Dixon unravels the mysteries of the art of the pre-perspective era. In Istanbul, he immerses himself in the world of the Byzantine Empire.
How should art depict the relationship between man and God? How can art best express eternal values? Can you, and should you, portray the face of Christ? For over a thousand years these were some of the questions which taxed the minds of the greatest artists of the early West. In this three-part series, art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon sets out to unravel the mysteries of the art of the pre-perspective era. Why has this world been so frequently misunderstood and underrated? His journey takes him from the mysterious catacombs of ancient Rome to Coptic Egypt, to the Orthodox Christian world of Istanbul and then onwards to medieval Italy and France.
In the second of this three-part series, Andrew Graham-Dixon travels to Istanbul to immerse himself in the tumultuous world of the Byzantine Empire. He reveals the art that emerged, decodes the iconography and explains its continuing relevance to everyday people.
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Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Andrew Graham-Dixon |
| Producer | Michael Wadding |
Broadcasts
- Wed 24 Jan 200721:00
- Wed 24 Jan 200723:50
- Thu 25 Jan 200702:45
- Sat 7 Apr 200720:10
- Sun 8 Apr 200701:10
Mon 13 Aug 200723:35BBC Two England, Northern Ireland (Analogue) & Northern Ireland only- Tue 14 Aug 200700:00BBC Two Wales (Analogue) & Wales only
- Wed 19 Dec 200720:00
- Thu 20 Dec 200702:50
- Mon 17 Mar 200801:45
- Mon 28 Apr 200819:30
- Tue 29 Apr 200803:10
- Fri 3 Oct 200801:55
- Tue 17 Nov 200900:05
- Fri 19 Mar 201001:45
