If you like to learn about art, while being entertained and enjoying a bit of screen time from the comfort of your sofa, here are my top picks from Netflix, iTunes and RTÉ. Make some popcorn.
RTÉ One 05th September 2018, 9.35pm Citizen Lane (2018) IMDb: 8.3
“The contemplation of beauty is no idle practice, beauty speaks for the soul of man (or woman) , to our higher selves and any city that celebrates such practice, can truly be considered great.”
The cleverly named “Citizen Lane”, tells the story of the man behind one of my very favourite and often under rated, art galleries here in Dublin, Ireland The Hugh Lane Gallery. Hugh Lane is played by an unrecognisable Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, best known as Nidge to Love/Hate fans.
The feature-length documentary is due to air on RTÉ one on September 5th 2018 at 9.35pm, after the news.
“CITIZEN LANE – In Irish Cinemas May 18th
A Portrait of Hugh Lane: aesthete, collector, dealer, philanthropist.”
You can watch the trailer here.
Picture credits: Still from the trailer by Eclipse Pictures.
iTunes: Woman in Gold. (2015) IMDb rating: 7.3 (when it’s above a 7, you know you’re in for a great film)
Women in Gold, is a remarkable true story surrounding the Gustav Kilmt painting “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I”, often referred to as the Austrian Mona Lisa.
The film is set sixty years after Maria Altmann’s (played by Helen Mirren) nerve-wracking escape, fleeing her home in Vienna during World War II to emigrate to the United States with her husband Fritz. Adele Bloch-Bauer I, is Maria Altmann’s beloved aunt.
The portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is one of many of her family possessions seized by the Nazis. However the Gustav Klimt painting, now more than a portrait of her aunt, has become a national treasure hanging in the Belvedere Gallery and valued at 135 million dollars. It becomes clear that the Austrian’s are not going to give it up easily.
Together with her young and inexperienced but courageous lawyer (Ryan Reynolds), she sets out on an incredible journey to reclaim what she believes is rightfully hers.
Woman in Gold is available on iTunes. You can watch the trailer here
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt
Picture Reference: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Netflix: Girl with a Pearl Earring. (2004) IMDB rating: 6.9 (so close!!)
More from Netflix for art lover here
You can check out a previous post Netflix for Art Lovers for a Renaissance inspired series but if it’s a film your after Girl with a Pearl Earring is beautiful. Now available on Netflix, Girl With A Pearl Earring, imagines the story of the model behind the famous Dutch masterpiece of the same name.
Based on the book by Tracy Chevalier it is not a factual story, we simply do not know very much about the real sitter for the Johannes Vermeer painting. Yet it gives us a glimpse of life in 17th century Delft and what it may have been like to live and paint there.
Vermeer is known as The Master of Light and this is reflected in the way the film is lit, in keeping with the style of his paintings. It is beautifully shot. I wasn’t sure how the book would translate on screen, given it is written from the point of view of the private thoughts of it’s heroine but it works. Scarlett Johansson is ideally cast as the protagonist Greit.
You can check out the art based on the famous Vermeer painting, by the young artist’s of Art Academy’s Easter Camp here.
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer
Picture Reference: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Upcoming Summer Camp at Art Academy:
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