Leonardo/The Divine Michelangelo

Synopsis

A 3-part BBC series on the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci combined on one DVD with a two-part docudrama on the life of Michelangelo.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2004

Year of production

2003

Notes

THE DIVINE MICHELANGELO was broadcast in 2 60-minute parts on BBC1 beginning 29/2/04. LEONARDO was broadcast in 3 60-minute parts on BBC1 beginning 20/4/03

Subjects

Art; History

Keywords

history of art; inventions; history of Italy

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£19.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

300 minutes

Year

2004

Sections

Title

Leonardo (3 parts)

Synopsis

A dramatised reconstruction of the life of Leonardo da Vinci, artist, scientist and engineer. Leonardo was one of the greatest figures of the Renaissance and yet only a handful of facts are known about him. He ate and drank with the most powerful men of his day yet always remained an outsider. This is the portrait of a genius of extraordinary diversity who lived a rollercoaster life of success and failure. Using computer graphics and virtual reality the viewer is able to retread Leonardo’s footsteps in Renaissance Italy and even enter - some of his works of art. The film also analyses his remarkable inventions, reconstructing and testing them.

Originally broadcast in 3 60-minute parts. Part 1, THE MAN WHO WANTED TO KNOW EVERYTHING covers Leonardo’s formative years, from his illegitimate birth to learning his craft and winning the patronage of Ludivico Sforza, Duke of Milan. In addition to painting masterpieces such as The Last Supper and Madonna of the Rocks, he also demonstrates his scientific understanding, designing an armoured war vehicle and a parachute. Part 2 - DANGEROUS LIAISONS. In 1500, Leonardo travelled from Milan to Venice, where he proposed a revolutionary form of warfare against the invading Turkish fleet. Later, returning to Florence, he pursued his obsession with flight, and became embroiled in a bitter rivalry with Michelangelo. Part 3 - THE SECRET LIFE OF THE MONA LISA. Alan Yentob tells the story of the creation of the most famous work of art in the world, the Mona Lisa, unravelling the many mysteries of this iconic image. Painted in 1503, the Mona Lisa was taken to France by Leonardo during the latter days of his life. Napoleon once kept the painting in his bedroom, and when it was stolen in 1911, it made global headlines

Duration

180 mins

Title

Divine Michelangelo, The

Synopsis

Unveils the man behind the myth. Five hundred years ago, Michelangelo created three of the art world’s greatest icons: the statue of David, the painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican and the dome of St Peter’s in Rome. This revealing drama documentary traces his development from angry young man to pride of Rome. His prodigious talent has led people to describe him as more divine than human. Modern experts reproduce elements of his work to discover the extent of his genius. His personal life is also examined and he is seen to have fought with rivals, faked antique sculptures and stolen from popes to become the richest artist the world had ever known.

Duration

180 mins

Production Company

Name

BBC Television

Distributor

Name

BBC Shop

Email

bbcshop@bbc.co.uk

Web

http://www.bbcshop.com External site opens in new window

Phone

0844 848 9799

Fax

01795 414 555

Address

PO Box 308
Sittingbourne
ME9 8LW

Notes

The BBC Shop closed on March 29th 2016. It was replaced by the BBC Store (www.bbcstore.com) where many BBC programmes can be bought and downloaded in digital format only. The BBC continues to make many of its programmes available on DVD and Blu-Ray but these are now only available from other online retailers.

Name

BBC Worldwide Publishing

Web

http://www.bbcworldwide.com External site opens in new window

Phone

020 8576 3560

Fax

020 8576 3570

Address

80 Wood Lane
London
W12 0TT

Notes

Since Spring 2005, for home video releases see BBC, 2 Entertain Video

Related

 

Available from retail outlets