a breeze of art

Putting Spanish art on the map

For the first time, Spain gains centre stage, as art
historian Andrew Graham-Dixon goes on the road
to reveal the fabulous art treasures of this country.
Presenter
Andrew Graham-Dixon
Series Producer
Robin Dashwood
Executive Producer
Basil Comely
CWe know that Italy and Northern Europe are renowned
for their art, but what about Spain?

In this absorbing series, Andrew travels from the south
to the north in his bid to learn more about the history of
art in Spain, while experiencing Spanish culture, with all
of its drama and exuberance.

Andrew explores the work of some of Europe’s most
important artists from the Renaissance to Modernism
including Goya, Picasso, Dali, El Greco and Velasquez.
He immerses himself in Spanish life, from Moorish art
and the Islamic legacy in Spain and Europe to flamenco
– without forgetting the all important food and drink. In
going ‘off the beaten track’, he reveals further insights
into the culture, talking to the people who live and work
with the greatest Spanish art and architecture every
day.
Andrew’s tour of the country leads him to the beauties
of Corboda with its world famous Mezquita Mosque,
Granada and the Alhambra. Moving on to Madrid, the
capital with its hub of culture and nightlife, and then
he explores Extremadura and the Royal Monastery
of Santa Maria de Guadalupe with its astonishing
collection of Zurbaran paintings. Finally, he goes to
Zaragoza to the House of Goya’s Birth.
This journey, which begins on the southernmost tip,
the Rock of Gibraltar and ends with a piece of modern
architecture in the Basque country by the architect
Calatrava, shows the wealth of beauty that Spain has
to offer, revealing along the way that Spanish culture is
every bit as rich as Italy’s, with a more surprising edge.

From bbcworld.com