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.

''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 Plow...

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.

"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...

"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 la...

''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 bri...

20th-century conflict sparks a creative rebellion in "Wars and Peace" as artists grapple with the devastation in Europe and the cultural transformation sweeping across the British Isles. In her performance of the poem "Easter 1916" by W.B. Yeats, actress Michelle Fairley delivers the poignant line, ''a terrible beauty is born,'' signaling a shift in public opinion away from the British Empire.

This final episode of "Art That Made Us" profiles the shift in British art from a generation haunted by the horrors of World War II to a fresh wave of voices rebelling against the established system. Actress Lesley Sharp brings to life excerpts from Shelagh Delaney's groundbreaking play, "A Taste of Honey," highlighting the previously unheard experiences of working-class women.