Great Paintings of the World with Andrew Marr

The stories behind The Hay Wain by John Constable, tone of the most famous paintings of the English countryside ever created, delving into what the it really represents. This seemingly simple, bucolic scene may look idyllic, but this canvas is really about one man's obstinate refusal to conform, a yearning for acceptance by his peers, family tragedy, and a blinkered refusal to see the harsh realities of rural life in early 19th-century England. As Constable's story heads to Paris, Andrew explains how this simple British scene would ultimately inspire a group of Frenchmen to give the world Impressionism.

The presenter heads to Amsterdam to unravel the journey of a risky young artist with an exceptional skill, desperate for fame and fortune. From being the most famous painter in Amsterdam, to being buried in a pauper's grave, these are the highs and lows behind The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn.

This episode examines the story behind an iconic image created by arguably the most famous and influential artist of the 20th century, Pablo Picasso. Andrew Marr tells the harrowing and uplifting tale of his `barbed-wire face-mask" of a painting, Weeping Woman.