6 weeks, 6 great museums and their 6 greatest works of art!

Join Mariska Beekenkamp-Wladimiroff for a six-part series that explores Europe’s six greatest museums and six of their greatest pieces of Western art that are considered some of humanity's most important. From Ancient Greeks to contemporary times — and well-known works to little-known gems — it's time to dive into six of Europe's most renowned Western art museums and discover some of their most outstanding works of art.

8/4/24: The Louvre, Paris. Covering:

• An introductory history of the Louvre Museum's buildings and collection
• A close look at six seminal works: The Winged Victory of Samothrace (c. 220-190 BC) | The Raft of the ‘Medusa’ by Géricault (1818-19) | Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci (1503-5) | Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix (1830) | Grande Odalisque by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1814) | Pastoral Concert by Titian (1509)
• Behind-the-scenes information on each of these works of art, including the makers of these works of art, the art historical period, the original context and place of display, the story being told, the importance in the development of the arts and for future artists, and some fun facts

15/4/24: The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Covering:

• An introductory history of the Rijksmuseum building and collection
• A close look at six seminal works: Marriage Portrait of Isaac Massa and Beatrix van der Laen by Frans Hals (1622) | The Night Watch by Rembrandt (1642) | The Milkmaid by Vermeer (1658-59) | Flower Pyramid after Lambertus van Eenhoorn (1700) | Girl in a White Kimono by George Hendrik Breitner (1894) | Square Man by Karel Appel (1951)
• Behind-the-scenes information on each of these works of art, including the makers of these works of art, the art historical period, the original context and place of display, the story being told, the importance in the development of the arts and for future artists, and some fun facts

22/4/24: The Prado, Madrid. Covering:

• An introductory history of the Prado building and collection
• A close look at six seminal works: Descent from the Cross by Rogier van der Weyden (1435) | The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch (1515) | Emperor Charles V at Mühlberg by Titian (1548) | Allegory of Sight by Jan Brueghel the Elder and Peter Paul Rubens (1618) | The Maids of Honour by Velazquez (1656) | The Naked Maya by Goya (1800)
• Behind-the-scenes information on each of these works of art, including the makers of these works of art, the art historical period, the original context and place of display, the story being told, the importance in the development of the arts and for future artists, and some fun facts

29/4/24: The Uffizzi, Florence. Covering:

• An introductory history of the Uffizi Gallery building and collection
• A close look at six seminal works: Adoration of the Magi by Andrea Mantegna (1462) | The Duke and Duchess of Urbino by Piero Della Francesca (1472) | The Birth of Venus by Alessandro Botticelli (1480) | The Madonna with the Long Neck by Parmigianino (1540) | Venus of Urbino by Titian (1538) | Self Portrait by Rosalba Carriera (1715)
• Behind-the-scenes information on each of these works of art, including the makers of these works of art, the art historical period, the original context and place of display, the story being told, the importance in the development of the arts and for future artists, and some fun facts

6/5/24: The National Gallery, London. Covering:

• An introductory history of the Uffizi Palace and collection
• A close look at six seminal works: The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck (1434) | The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger (1533) | Christ driving the moneychangers from the temple by El Greco (1600) | Whistlejacket by George Stubbs (1762) | The Hay Wain by John Constable (1821) | Rain, Steam, and Speed - The Great Western Railway by Turner (1844)
• Behind-the-scenes information on each of these works of art, including the makers of these works of art, the art historical period, the original context and place of display, the story being told, the importance in the development of the arts and for future artists, and some fun facts

13/5/24: The Vatican, Rome. Covering:

• An introductory history of the Vatican Museum building and collection
• A close look at six seminal works: The Laocoön sculpture group (27CE) | The Apollo Belvedere (2nd century CE) | The Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo (1512) | The School of Athens by Raphael (1511) | Grotesques at the Vatican Loggias by Raphael (1516) | Deposition by Caravaggio (1604)
• Behind-the-scenes information on each of these works of art, including the makers of these works of art, the art historical period, the original context and place of display, the story being told, the importance in the development of the arts and for future artists, and some fun facts