Video Documentaries

A pioneering team of art experts attempt to recreate van Gogh's 1888 painting Six Sunflowers, which was destroyed in Japan during World War II.    Mystery of the Lost Paintings ep. 3 - Mystery of the Lost Van Gogh Sunflowers is the name of two series of still life paintings by the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. The first series, executed in Paris in 1887, depicts the flowers lying on the ground, while the second set, executed a year later in Arles, shows a bouquet of sunflowers in a vase. In the artist's mind both sets were linked by the name of his friend Paul Gauguin, who acquired two of the Paris versions. About eight months later van Gogh hoped to welcome and to impress Gauguin again with Sunflowers, now part of the painted Décoration for the Yellow House that he prepared for the guestroom of his home in Arles, where Gauguin was supposed to stay. After Gauguin's departure, van Gogh imagined the two major versions as wings of the Berceuse Triptych, and finally he inclu

Andrew Graham-Dixon confronts the worlds of high art and seriously organised crime to uncover the true story behind the greatest art heist of the 21st century. In December 2002, two priceless and historically important paintings were stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, in a brutal and audacious robbery by experienced, professional thieves.     But what happened to the masterpieces, and what is their use to criminals who can never sell or display them on the open market? Andrew travels across Europe, moving between the worlds of high art and low crime and meeting policemen, prosecutors and art experts to uncover just how the world of violent and organised crime makes extensive use of stolen art - and how lost masterpieces like these can be successfully recovered. Stealing Van Gogh - Art thefts at Van Gogh Museum In 1991, twenty paintings were stolen from the museum, among them Van Gogh's early painting The Potato Eaters. Although the thieves escaped from the building,

Vincent van Gogh life has long captured the imagination, shrouded in myth and misunderstanding, but who was he really? Delving deep into his fascinating and sometimes deeply troubled world comes this definitive, award-winning documentary directed by David Bickerstaff. Vincent van Gogh: A New Way of Seeing seeks the truth about Van Gogh. What better way to discover the real Van Gogh than through his art? Showcasing his iconic works and featuring extensive access to Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum – along with illuminating letters that capture his most revealing and moving moments – this remarkable documentary brings to life arguably the world’s favourite artist and reminds us, in Van Gogh’s own words, that ‘Art is long and life is short’. Just who really was Vincent van Gogh? David Bickerstaff’s award-winning documentary delves deep into his fascinating and troubled world. Featuring exclusive access to the Van Gogh Museum, the film brings to life the world’s favourite artist.

Born in Groot-Zundert, The Netherlands, Van Gogh spent his early life as an art dealer, teacher and preacher in England, Holland and Belgium. His period as an artist began in 1881 when he chose to study art in Brussels, starting with watercolours and moving quickly on to oils. The French countryside was a major influence on his life and his early work was dominated by sombre, earthy colours depicting peasant workers, the most famous of which is The Potato Eaters, 1885. It was during Van Gogh's studies in Paris (1886-8) that he developed the individual style of brushwork and use of colour that made his name. In 1888 he moved to Arles where the Provençal landscape provided his best-known subject matter. However, it also marked the start of his mental crisis following an argument with his contemporary Paul Gauguin. Van Gogh was committed to a mental asylum in 1889 where he continued to paint, but he committed suicide in 1890. Power of Art episode 6 The power of the greatest art is the

Vincent van Gogh was one of the true pioneers of modern painting. He is perhaps the most mythologised artist in the history of art and his tragic life is ingrained in the popular imagination. Active as an artist for only ten years he completed 1250 paintings, before succumbing to mental illness and taking his own life in July of 1890. Although he sold only one painting during his lifetime, his enormous rise to fame after his death means that today his are among the most cherished paintings of all the great artists. Great Artists This major 26-part series takes a fresh look at the most important artworks of some of the greatest artists in history. Shot on location in over fifty museums, churches and palaces throughout Europe and the United States, this series is a comprehensive survey of the history of Western art. Both intelligent and informative, it's the perfect introduction to the art of the Old Masters. This set contains all 26 episodes of the Great Artists series: Giotto , Leo