Culture

Rick Steves' Art of Europe

Rick Steves Art of Europe weaves Europe’s greatest masterpieces into an entertaining and inspiring story. From prehistoric cave paintings to the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome; through a thousand years of Middle Ages to the Renaissance; and from extravagant Baroque to the tumultuous 20th century, we’ll see how Europe’s art both connects us to the past and points the way forward.

The Modern Age

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.

Episodes

  • The Modern Age: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    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.

  • Baroque: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    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.

  • The Renaissance: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    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.

  • The Middle Ages: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    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.

  • Ancient Rome: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    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.

  • Stone Age to Ancient Greece: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    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

  • Image
    Rick Steves Art of Europe: Ancient Rome: TVSS: Iconic

    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: TVSS: Iconic

    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: TVSS: Iconic

    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: TVSS: Iconic

    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: TVSS: Iconic

    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: TVSS: Iconic

    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: TVSS: Iconic

    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: TVSS: Iconic

    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: TVSS: Iconic

    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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