LibGuides: Ancient Art: Media

Featured Streaming Media

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The Etruscans (27:09) Enter the tombs at Tarquinia and Cerveteri, and the walls speak eloquently of the art and culture of ancient Etruria. The superb frescoes painted to enhance the walls of these tombs tell us in detail about the environment in which the Etruscans lived. They also depict the elaborate houses of the dead in which priceless treasures were buried along with the deceased. These detailed and beautifully preserved frescoes were painted to remind the dead of the living; today they speak across the gulf of centuries about the lives of the Etruscans.
Living Stones 2: Uncovering Ancient History Series This outstanding ten-part series assembles, through archaeology, a vivid composite picture of world-shaping events and day-to-day business in the ancient world. Footage of archaeologists at work, computer-generated reconstructions, and virtual walk-throughs bring the history of faraway lands and long-ago times to life. Not available in French-speaking Canada. 10-part series, 27-29 minutes each.
Treasures of Ancient Egypt Series If you think the treasures of Ancient Egypt are just gold, gaudiness and pyramids, think again. In this epic, visually stunning adventure through Ancient Egypt, journalist and art critic Alastair Sooke follows on from his hit series Treasures of Ancient Rome, tracking down the treasures of the longest-lasting civilization in history and uncovering the true story of their rise and fall throughout the ages. Stepping aside from the well-worn usual clichés of this era, he discovers how Egypt’s unique melting pot of geography and culture created some of the most remarkable treasures the world has ever seen. A BBC Production. 3-part series, 50-52 minutes each.
Treasures of Ancient Greece Series Is Ancient Greek art just a collection of elegant works of marble, framed by a love of democracy and enlightened reasoning? Far from it. Art critic and journalist Alastair Sooke demonstrates it is in fact far more diverse and surprising – a multi-cultural mix of styles, techniques and materials that left no subject matter unexplored. Filmed in sumptuous locations around the Mediterranean and across Europe, Alastair shows how a limited view of Ancient Greek art just does not hold up. His journey takes him from the bucolic beauty of early Minoan and Mycenaean art to striking works full of eroticism and drunken hedonism and culminates in some of the most breathtakingly exquisite art the world has ever seen. Considered, thoughtful and enthralling, this series offers a fresh understanding and new perspective on an incredible period of art. 3-part series, 59-60 minutes each.
Treasures of Ancient Rome Series In this three-part series, art critic Alastair Sooke sets out to debunk a myth that has persisted far too long: that when it came to art, the Romans were unsophisticated and imitative. Sooke journeys from the heart of Rome to the farthest corners of the empire for fresh insights into the monumental stonework and delicate frescoes that eventually became benchmarks of Western art. Sooke also visits contemporary studios to learn how these masterpieces were made. A BBC Production. 3-part series, 60 minutes each.
Treasures of Athens and Olympia: Greek Art through the Ages Series With sumptuous footage, an authentic musical soundtrack, and commentary from leading experts in classical art and culture, this beautifully crafted three-part series provides a detailed guide to the treasures of Greece’s foremost city and its surroundings. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and architectural spectacles create a visual framework in which Greek culture, and its impact on the wider world, can be comprehended and appreciated. 3-part series, 24-25 minutes each.