My National Gallery, London
2024 · 98 min · ★ 8.0 · Documentary
The National Gallery of London is one of the world’s greatest art galleries. It is full of masterpieces, an endless resource of history, an endless source of stories. But whose stories are told? Which art has the most impact and on whom? The power of great art lies in its ability to communicate with anyone, no matter their art historical knowledge, their background, their beliefs. This film gives voice to those who work at the gallery – from cleaner to curator, security guard to director – who identify the one artwork that means the most to them and why. An assortment of people from all walks of life who have a strong connection to the gallery make surprising choices of both well-known and lesser-known artworks. Finally, some well-known celebrities explain what they head for when they visit the gallery. These stories are used as a lens through which to explore the 200-year history of the National Gallery and what the future may hold for this spectacular space.
Directed by Phil Grabsky · Written by Phil Grabsky
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Michael Palin Self -
Claudia Winkleman Self -
Terry Gilliam Self -
Princess Eugenie Self - G Gabriele Finaldi Self
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Jacqueline Wilson Self
Make it a double feature
3h 8m together
Both from Phil Grabsky.
Exhibition on Screen CollectionSee all →
Leonardo: From the National Gallery, London · 2012Leonardo: From the National Gallery, London
★ 2.02012
MovieDocumentary
A remarkable event at London’s National Gallery assembled the largest ever collection of Leonardo’s surviving paintings for a unique exhibition "Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan." Given exclusive access to the opening night of the exhibition the film captures the excitement of the occasion and provides a fascinating exploration of Leonardo’s great works. Art historian and broadcaster Tim Marlow offers his insight into the great masterpieces and invites the opinions of the curators, restorers and other specially invited guests. Interwoven is an insightful biography filmed at the locations of Leonardo’s life as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the preparations of what was undoubtedly a once-only exhibition which also included the first newly attributed Leonardo in over a century.
Vermeer and Music · 2013Vermeer and Music
2013
MovieDocumentary
Filmed in London’s National Gallery, New York’s Met and other galleries in the USA and the Netherlands, this stunning film delves into a breath-taking collection of Vermeer’s finest pieces and delivers a detailed biography of the artist, his life and times. An exposition of period musical pursuits is blended with the art of Vermeer and his contemporaries.
Munch 150 · 2013Munch 150
★ 5.02013
MovieDocumentary
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Manet: Portraying Life · 2013Manet: Portraying Life
★ 5.02013
MovieDocumentary
Manet’s portraits are rarely afforded such close attention as they are given in this exquisitely crafted and insightful film presented by art expert Tim Marlow. Manet’s portraiture comprised about half his work, giving life on canvas to family, friends and the literary, political and artistic figures of the day.
Matisse · 2014Matisse
2014
MovieDocumentary
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★ 8.02015
MovieDocumentary
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★ 7.22015
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★ 7.82015
MovieDocumentary
The Girl with a Pearl Earring' by Johannes Vermeer is one of the most enduring paintings in the history of art. This beautifully filmed documentary goes in pursuit of answers to the unresolved riddles surrounding this extraordinary piece.
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★ 5.02016
MovieDocumentary
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★ 7.52016
MovieDocumentary
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★ 5.02016
MovieDocumentary
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★ 5.02016
MovieDocumentary
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★ 7.52017
MovieDocumentary
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★ 9.02017
MovieDocumentaryHistory
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★ 7.22017
MovieDocumentary
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★ 8.52017
MovieDocumentary
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★ 6.22017
MovieDocumentary
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★ 5.32018
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MovieDocumentary
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★ 10.02018
MovieDocumentary
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★ 6.52019
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Leonardo: The Works · 2019Leonardo: The Works
★ 6.52019
MovieDocumentaryHistory
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★ 8.02019
MovieDocumentary
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Van Gogh & Japan · 2019Van Gogh & Japan
★ 6.82019
MovieHistoryDocumentary
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★ 6.02020
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★ 7.22020
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★ 8.02021
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★ 6.02021
MovieDocumentary
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2021
MovieDocumentary
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★ 7.22022
MovieDocumentary
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★ 7.02022
MovieDocumentary
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2023
MovieDocumentary
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★ 7.82023
MovieDocumentary
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★ 5.02023
MovieDocumentary
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★ 8.02023
MovieDocumentary
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★ 9.52024
MovieDocumentary
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★ 8.02024
MovieDocumentary
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★ 5.82025
MovieDocumentary
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More from Phil GrabskySee all →
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★ 10.02018
MovieDocumentary
Every Rembrandt exhibition is eagerly anticipated but this major show hosted by London’s National Gallery and Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum was an event like no other. Given privileged access to both galleries the film documents this landmark exhibition, whilst interweaving Rembrandt’s life story, with behind-the-scenes preparations at these world famous institutions. Exploring many of the exhibition’s key works, through contributions from specially invited guests including curators and leading art historians, this EXHIBITION ON SCREEN favourite makes a welcome return to the big screen marking the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt's death. For many, Rembrandt is the greatest artist that ever lived and this deeply moving film seeks to explore the truth about the man behind the legend.
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★ 9.52024
MovieDocumentary
Filmed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Tate Britain, London, the exhibition reveals Sargent’s power to express distinctive personalities, power dynamics and gender identities during this fascinating period of cultural reinvention. Alongside 50 paintings by Sargent sit stunning items of clothing and accessories worn by his subjects, drawing the audience into the artist’s studio. Sargent’s sitters were often wealthy, their clothes costly, but what happens when you turn yourself over to the hands of a great artist? The manufacture of public identity is as controversial and contested today as it was at the turn of the 20th century, but somehow Sargent’s work transcends the social noise and captures an alluring truth with each brush stroke.
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★ 9.22025
MovieDocumentary
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Ancient Inventions · 1998Ancient Inventions
★ 8.41998
SeriesDocumentary
Ancient Inventions was a BBC historical documentary series released in 1998. It was presented by ex-Monty Python member Terry Jones and looked at great inventions of the ancient world. The series is split into 3 episodes, namely City Life, Sex and Love, and War and Conflicts, all around 50 min long.
The Impressionists: And the Man Who Made Them · 2015The Impressionists: And the Man Who Made Them
★ 8.02015
MovieDocumentary
Monet, Cezanne, Degas, Renoir: some of the world’s most popular artists. Their works, and that of their contemporaries, fetch tens of millions of dollars around the globe. But who were they really? Why & how exactly did they paint? What lies behind their enduring appeal? To help answer these questions, this unique film secured unparalleled access to a major exhibition focussing on the man credited with inventing impressionism as we know it: 19th-century Parisian art collector Paul Durand-Ruel. This eagerly anticipated international exhibition is possibly the most comprehensive exploration of the Impressionists in history.
The Surprising History of Sex and Love · 2002The Surprising History of Sex and Love
★ 8.02002
MovieDocumentaryHistory
The Surprising History of Sex and Love is a documentary presented by Terry Jones, looking at the different and surprising attitudes to sex and love throughout history. The documentary traces the story of changing social and religious attitudes to sex through a broad swathe of history. Starting with the place of ’sacred sex’ in the ancient world and ending with a discussion of the contemporary relationship between sex, marketing and prurience, the film offers some kind of map of how we got from there to here, and indicates that changes in sexual attitudes are connected with issues of power and control.
Lucian Freud: A Self Portrait · 2019Lucian Freud: A Self Portrait
★ 8.02019
MovieDocumentary
For the first time in history the Royal Academy of Arts in London, in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, is bringing together Lucian Freud’s self-portraits. The exhibition will display more than 50 paintings, prints and drawings in which this modern master of British art turned his unflinching eye firmly on himself. One of the most celebrated painters of our time, Lucian Freud is also one of very few 20th-century artists who portrayed themselves with such consistency. Spanning nearly seven decades his self-portraits give a fascinating insight into both his psyche and his development as a painter, from his earliest portrait painted in 1939 to the final one executed 64 years later. When seen together, his portraits represent an engrossing study into the dynamic of ageing and the process of self-representation. This intensely compelling exhibition creates a unique opportunity for EXHIBITION ON SCREEN to reveal the life’s work of a master in one show.
Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition · 2023Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition
★ 7.82023
MovieDocumentary
With loans from across the world, this major retrospective will bring together Vermeer’s most famous masterpieces including Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Geographer, The Milkmaid, The Little Street, Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid, and Woman Holding a Balance. This film invites audiences to a private view of the exhibition, accompanied by the director of the Rijksmuseum and the curator of the show.
Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World · 2001Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World
★ 7.62001
MovieDocumentary
"This is a kid who just said it. I'm the greatest - and he said it with poetry. And I don't mean just the poems that he wrote but with the poetic energy, the poetic spirit" - James Earl Jones. Through the eys of the world is a unique account of one of the great icons of the 20th century, told by family, friends and fans from all over the world.
Concerto: A Beethoven Journey · 2015Concerto: A Beethoven Journey
★ 7.52015
MovieMusicDocumentary
Filmed over the course of four years, Grabsky and his Seventh Art team followed leading concert pianist Leif Ove Andsnes's attempt to understand and interpret one of the greatest sets of works for piano ever written: Beethoven's five piano concertos.The end result is a beautifully-crafted film with lavish cinematography, a signature of Grabsky and Seventh Art's style. Considered one of the top pianists of the age, Leif Ove Andsnes offers rare insights into the mind of a world-class pianist and access to his personal and professional life. Against the wonderful background of Leif Ove Andsnes playing these five pieces, we also peel back the many myths of Beethoven's life. Perhaps above all it is the fresh new biography of Beethoven that is most revealing.
Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse · 2016Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse
★ 7.52016
MovieDocumentary
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Hopper: An American Love Story · 2022Hopper: An American Love Story
★ 7.22022
MovieDocumentary
Countless painters, photographers, filmmakers and musicians have been influenced by Hopper's art – but who was he, and how did a struggling illustrator create such a bounty of notable work? This documentary takes a deep look into his art, his life, and his relationships from his early career as an illustrator; his wife giving up her own promising art career to be his manager; his critical and commercial acclaim; and in his own words—the enigmatic personality behind the brush…
Pissarro: Father of Impressionism · 2022Pissarro: Father of Impressionism
★ 7.02022
MovieDocumentary
Without Camille Pissarro, there is no Impressionist movement. He is rightfully known as the father of Impressionism. This film explores and highlights the enthralling and hugely important biography and output of an incredible artist.
American Masters · 1986American Masters
★ 7.01986
SeriesDocumentary
American Masters is a PBS television series which produces biographies on enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, filmmakers, and others who have left an indelible impression on the cultural landscape of the United States.
Leonardo: The Works · 2019Leonardo: The Works
★ 6.52019
MovieDocumentaryHistory
Leonardo da Vinci is acclaimed as the world’s favourite artist. Many TV shows and feature films have showcased this extraordinary genius but often not examined closely enough is the most crucial element of all: his art. Leonardo’s peerless paintings and drawings will be the focus of Leonardo: The Works, as EXHIBITION ON SCREEN presents every single attributed painting, in Ultra HD quality, never seen before on the big screen. Key works include The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Lady with an Ermine, Ginevra de’ Benci, Madonna Litta, Virgin of the Rocks, and more than a dozen others.
Young Picasso · 2019Young Picasso
★ 6.52019
MovieDocumentary
Pablo Picasso is one of the greatest artists of all time - and right up until his death in 1973 he was the most prolific of artists. Many films have dealt with these later years - the art, the affairs and the wide circle of friends. But where did this all begin? What made Picasso in the first place? Too long ignored, it is time to look at the early years of Picasso; the upbringing and the learning that led to his extraordinary achievements.
