The Modern Age
In the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution spawned new artistic styles: idealized Romanticism, light-chasing Impressionism, sensuous Art Nouveau. Then Europe’s tumultuous 20th century inspired rule-breaking art as exciting as the times: from Expressionism and Cubism to Surrealism to Abstract. The genius of artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Dalí express the complexity of our modern world.
Episodes
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The Modern Age
S1 E106 - 55m 35s
In the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution spawned new artistic styles: idealized Romanticism, light-chasing Impressionism, sensuous Art Nouveau. Then Europe’s tumultuous 20th century inspired rule-breaking art as exciting as the times: from Expressionism and Cubism to Surrealism to Abstract. The genius of artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Dalí express the complexity of our modern world.
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Baroque
S1 E105 - 55m 16s
In the 1600s and 1700s, the art of "divine" kings and popes—and of revolutionaries and Reformers—tells the story of a Europe in transition. In the Catholic south, Baroque bubbled over with fanciful decoration and exuberant emotion. In the Protestant north, art was more sober and austere. And in France, the excesses of godlike kings gave way to revolution, Napoleon, and cerebral Neoclassicism.
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The Renaissance
S1 E104 - 55m 36s
Around 1400, Europe rediscovered the aesthetics of ancient Greece and Rome. This rebirth of classical culture showed itself in the statues, paintings, and architecture of Florence, then spread to Spain, Holland, Germany, and beyond. The Renaissance—from art-loving popes to Leonardo’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David—celebrated humanism and revolutionized how we think about our world.
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The Middle Ages
S1 E103 - 55m 35s
After Rome fell, Europe spent a thousand years in its Middle Ages. Its art shows how the light of civilization flickered in monasteries and on Europe’s fringes: Christian Byzantium, Moorish Spain, and pagan Vikings. Then, around A.D. 1000, Europe rebounded. The High Middle Ages brought majestic castles, radiant Gothic cathedrals, and exquisite art that dazzled the faithful and the secular alike.
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Ancient Rome
S1 E102 - 55m 16s
The Romans gave Europe its first taste of a common culture—and awe-inspiring art. From its groundbreaking architecture to its statues, mosaics, and frescos, Rome engineered bigger and better than anyone before. At its peak, the Roman Empire was a society of unprecedented luxury, with colossal arenas for entertaining the masses and giant monuments to egotistical emperors. And then it fell.
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Stone Age to Ancient Greece
S1 E101 - 55m 16s
As the Ice Age glaciers melted, European civilization was born—and with it, so was art. From the Stone Age came prehistoric art: mysterious tombs, mighty megaliths, and vivid cave paintings. Then the Egyptians and the Greeks laid the foundations of Western art—creating a world of magical gods, massive pyramids, sun-splashed temples, and ever-more-lifelike statues.
Schedule
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Image
Rick Steves' Art of Europe
Ancient Rome
Saturday
Oct 5
1 Hour
From its architecture to statues, mosaics and frescos, Rome gave Europe its first taste of a common culture; at its peak, the Roman Empire was a society of luxury. -
Image
Rick Steves' Art of Europe
Stone Age to Ancient Greece
Monday
Oct 7
1 Hour
Mysterious tombs, megaliths and cave paintings emerge from the Stone Age; Egyptians and Greeks lay the foundation of Western art, creating a world of gods, pyramids, temples and lifelike statues. -
Image
Rick Steves' Art of Europe
Ancient Rome
Monday
Oct 7
1 Hour
From its architecture to statues, mosaics and frescos, Rome gave Europe its first taste of a common culture; at its peak, the Roman Empire was a society of luxury. -
Image
Rick Steves' Art of Europe
The Middle Ages
Monday
Oct 7
1 Hour
Europe spends one thousand years in the Middle Ages following the fall of Rome; the High Middle Ages bring castles, Gothic cathedrals and exquisite art. -
Image
Rick Steves' Art of Europe
The Renaissance
Tuesday
Oct 8
1 Hour
Around 1400, a rebirth of classical culture shows itself in statues, paintings and architecture of Florence, Italy, then Spain, Holland, Germany and beyond. -
Image
Rick Steves' Art of Europe
Baroque
Tuesday
Oct 8
1 Hour
In the 1600s and 1700s, Baroque bubbles over in the Catholic south with fancy decoration and emotion, while the Protestant north is more sober; France sees revolution, Napoleon and Neoclassicism. -
Image
Rick Steves' Art of Europe
The Modern Age
Tuesday
Oct 8
1 Hour
The Industrial Revolution spawns new artistic styles; the 20th century inspires expressionism, cubism, surrealism and abstract; artists like Van Gogh, Picasso and Dali express the complexity of the modern world. -
Image
Rick Steves' Art of Europe
The Middle Ages
Saturday
Oct 12
1 Hour
Europe spends one thousand years in the Middle Ages following the fall of Rome; the High Middle Ages bring castles, Gothic cathedrals and exquisite art. -
Image
Rick Steves' Art of Europe
The Renaissance
Saturday
Oct 19
1 Hour
Around 1400, a rebirth of classical culture shows itself in statues, paintings and architecture of Florence, Italy, then Spain, Holland, Germany and beyond.
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