With this new series Andrew Graham-Dixon returns to Europe taking us on a journey into the captivating watery world of the Low Countries and its art. This small myriad of regions we now know as Holland and Belgium produced some of the most celebrated names in art: Van Eyck, Bosch, Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Van Gogh, Mondrian and Magritte. 　　As he travels by canal boat and of course by bicycle Andrew reveals just how important the Low Countries were in key moments in the development of western culture - the birth of oil painting in the late medieval ages, the triumph of the Dutch golden age, and the onset of polarizing modern art movements surrealism and abstraction. 　　This is not the story of one nation, but of fluid, ever-shifting boundaries and the search for identity in an area that has always been politically contested. 　　EPISODE ONE: 　　The first episode will be about how the art of Renaissance Flanders evolved from the craft of precious tapestries within the Duchy of Burgundy into a leading painting school in its own right. Starting his journey at the magnificent altarpiece of Ghent Cathedral created by the Van Eyck brothers Andrew explains their ground breaking innovation in oil painting and marvels how the colours they obtained can still remain so vibrant today. Andrew will describe how in the early Renaissance the most urgent preoccupation was not the advancement of learning, humanist or otherwise, but the Last Judgment. People believed they were living in the end of days; a subject popular with preachers and artists and intensely realized in swarming microscopic detail by Hieronymus Bosch. 　　EPISODE TWO: 　　In the second episode Andrew explores how the seemingly peaceful countries of Holland and Belgium – famous for their tulips and windmills, mussels and chips - were in fact forged in a crucible of conflict and division. He will examine how a period of economic boom driven for the first time by a burgeoning and secular middle class led to the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th Century. Andrew travels to Delft and Amsterdam to demonstrate the striking contrast between two of its greatest proponents, Rembrandt and Vermeer (one famed for his breathtakingly realistic domestic street scenes, the other for explosive rapid brushstrokes and raw colours, best exemplified in his contentious magnum opus – The Nightwatch.) Radically different in style, both men were united by the realization that they must become innovators in business as well as masters of their craft. Yet boom also meant bust - and in a story with very modern echoes they ultimately shared the same fate, financial destitution. 　　EPISODE THREE: 　　Following a brief period of decline, the third episode will look at how the entrepreneurial and industrious region of the Low Countries rose again to become a cultural leader in the modern age; how despite its small and apparent insignificance when stood up against the powerhouses of Europe it produced important forward thinking artists like Van Gogh, Mondrian, Magritte and Delvaux who changed the face of art forever. In this episode Andrew’s exhilarating journey takes us to a remote beach in North West Holland which inspired Mondrian’s transition to his now renowned abstract grid paintings.

With this new series Andrew Graham-Dixon returns to Europe taking us on a journey into the captivating watery world of the Low Countries and its art. This small myriad of regions we now know as Holland and Belgium produced some of the most celebrated names in art: Van Eyck, Bosch, Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Van Gogh, Mondrian and Magritte. 　　As he travels by canal boat and of course by bicycle Andrew reveals just how important the Low Countries were in key moments in the development of western culture - the birth of oil painting in the late medieval ages, the triumph of the Dutch golden age, and the onset of polarizing modern art movements surrealism and abstraction. 　　This is not the story of one nation, but of fluid, ever-shifting boundaries and the search for identity in an area that has always been politically contested. 　　EPISODE ONE: 　　The first episode will be about how the art of Renaissance Flanders evolved from the craft of precious tapestries within the Duchy of Burgundy into a leading painting school in its own right. Starting his journey at the magnificent altarpiece of Ghent Cathedral created by the Van Eyck brothers Andrew explains their ground breaking innovation in oil painting and marvels how the colours they obtained can still remain so vibrant today. Andrew will describe how in the early Renaissance the most urgent preoccupation was not the advancement of learning, humanist or otherwise, but the Last Judgment. People believed they were living in the end of days; a subject popular with preachers and artists and intensely realized in swarming microscopic detail by Hieronymus Bosch. 　　EPISODE TWO: 　　In the second episode Andrew explores how the seemingly peaceful countries of Holland and Belgium – famous for their tulips and windmills, mussels and chips - were in fact forged in a crucible of conflict and division. He will examine how a period of economic boom driven for the first time by a burgeoning and secular middle class led to the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th Century. Andrew travels to Delft and Amsterdam to demonstrate the striking contrast between two of its greatest proponents, Rembrandt and Vermeer (one famed for his breathtakingly realistic domestic street scenes, the other for explosive rapid brushstrokes and raw colours, best exemplified in his contentious magnum opus – The Nightwatch.) Radically different in style, both men were united by the realization that they must become innovators in business as well as masters of their craft. Yet boom also meant bust - and in a story with very modern echoes they ultimately shared the same fate, financial destitution. 　　EPISODE THREE: 　　Following a brief period of decline, the third episode will look at how the entrepreneurial and industrious region of the Low Countries rose again to become a cultural leader in the modern age; how despite its small and apparent insignificance when stood up against the powerhouses of Europe it produced important forward thinking artists like Van Gogh, Mondrian, Magritte and Delvaux who changed the face of art forever. In this episode Andrew’s exhilarating journey takes us to a remote beach in North West Holland which inspired Mondrian’s transition to his now renowned abstract grid paintings.

Pedro, a shepherd, is sleeping in his Pyrenean mountain hut when his herd is attacked by a lone wolf. He awakens to defend his sheep, and strangles the wolf. In the Catalan lowlands, the construction of a canal is completed and diverts water from the farms and fields of the peasants to support the prized bulls of the landowner, Don Sebastian, marquis of Roccabruno. The request of the peasants for water is arrogantly rejected. He has, however, significant debts and needs money. The rich Amelia plans to marry him, but he offends her. Martha, a “beggar dancer”, has come to the village, and entertains the people. Sebastian sees her and takes her to his castle, enchanted by her beauty and grace. He keeps her as his mistress in a "golden cage"...

Pedro, a shepherd, is sleeping in his Pyrenean mountain hut when his herd is attacked by a lone wolf. He awakens to defend his sheep, and strangles the wolf. In the Catalan lowlands, the construction of a canal is completed and diverts water from the farms and fields of the peasants to support the prized bulls of the landowner, Don Sebastian, marquis of Roccabruno. The request of the peasants for water is arrogantly rejected. He has, however, significant debts and needs money. The rich Amelia plans to marry him, but he offends her. Martha, a “beggar dancer”, has come to the village, and entertains the people. Sebastian sees her and takes her to his castle, enchanted by her beauty and grace. He keeps her as his mistress in a "golden cage"...

Jim Al-Khalili教授在本三集纪录片中，带领观众探究元素背后的故事。

Jim Al-Khalili教授在本三集纪录片中，带领观众探究元素背后的故事。

1960年，因为自然灾害的缘故，有三千名南方孤儿被送到内蒙古草原，被大爱无疆的蒙古族养父母收养。哥哥朝鲁、妹妹通嘎拉嘎，还有和他们兄妹年龄相仿的毕若水和阿腾花，各有不同的性格，有的豪爽，有的精明，有的温和，他们被不同的家庭收养后，有了不同的人生命运，五十多年的人生经历，他们有的变成富裕的商人，有的成为心系草原的政府官员，有的宅心仁厚行医救人，有的却经历了从铁饭碗到下岗再就业的坎坷，但是他们都在草原上扎下了根，无愧于养父母的养育，无愧于自己的人生。

1960年，因为自然灾害的缘故，有三千名南方孤儿被送到内蒙古草原，被大爱无疆的蒙古族养父母收养。哥哥朝鲁、妹妹通嘎拉嘎，还有和他们兄妹年龄相仿的毕若水和阿腾花，各有不同的性格，有的豪爽，有的精明，有的温和，他们被不同的家庭收养后，有了不同的人生命运，五十多年的人生经历，他们有的变成富裕的商人，有的成为心系草原的政府官员，有的宅心仁厚行医救人，有的却经历了从铁饭碗到下岗再就业的坎坷，但是他们都在草原上扎下了根，无愧于养父母的养育，无愧于自己的人生 。

本片将讲述斯大林葬礼的“宏伟、恐怖且怪诞”的场面。这将是洛兹尼察最新的蒙太奇电影，基于档案影像，他将在今年晚些时候完工。他表示：“我一直在研究一部于1953年3月5日至8日拍摄的电影，这部电影导演包括谢尔盖·格拉西莫夫（Сергей Герасимов）和伊利亚·科帕林（Илья Копалин），但是电影在苏联政府内部观影过后就被禁了。直到90年代才重新被发现。”

本片将讲述斯大林葬礼的“宏伟、恐怖且怪诞”的场面。这将是洛兹尼察最新的蒙太奇电影，基于档案影像，他将在今年晚些时候完工。他表示：“我一直在研究一部于1953年3月5日至8日拍摄的电影，这部电影导演包括谢尔盖·格拉西莫夫（Сергей Герасимов）和伊利亚·科帕林（Илья Копалин），但是电影在苏联政府内部观影过后就被禁了。直到90年代才重新被发现。”