The Renaissance Unchained, BBC4 - TV review: Waldemar Januszczak’s Venice episode was a seductive bit of art history
Januszczak’s accessible presenting style brought his version of Renaissance Venice alive to the viewer
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Waldemar Januszczak is three-quarters of the way through his journey encouraging us to rethink the Renaissance. This time, he was in Venice, arguing that the unique setting of the city – a trade hot spot between East and West, and in watery, mythical-feeling surroundings – had a big influence on Renaissance art. As he stamped around the canals, you got a sense he was having a great time and it made for an absorbing watch.
He zoomed in on some of the city's most sensual qualities, not least as the birthplace of the reclining Venus, a product of the fact that at the time, the area was home to some 12,000 prostitutes. “I'm afraid, it means 'bridge of tits'. I'm sorry but that's what it's called,” he said entirely unapologetic on the Ponte delle Tette. That's nothing new, of course, but his accessible style drew us in to the small details. He encouraged us to spot the Murano glass in the paintings, and the subjects' “snazzy robes” that were a result of the silk trade and were influential beyond Venice: “You’ll be amazed how many of the prophets and ancestors up there have turned up in their best cangiante clobber,” he said of the presence of the city's distinctive shot silk in images on Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling.
As Januszczak was the sole narrator, it was inevitable his head occasionally got in the way of the art, but mercifully those shots were in the minority and there was plenty of time devoted to the works of the likes of Titian and Tintoretto. It made me want to revisit Venice and look that bit closer; at the glass, the silk and yep, the tits.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments