Simon Schama’s Power of Art

Around the world, certain great works of art exist that transcend time and space to leave a lasting impact on society as a whole. Simon Schama’s Power of Art is a personal, in-depth examination of eight of these transcendental works of art.

From Rothko to Rembrandt, and Turner to Caravaggio, Power of Art follows historian Simon Schama as he unravels the history behind, motivation for, and impact of eight great works of art. He places each work in the historical context that gave rise to its creation, explores the place and time in which each work was created, and unpacks the “why” behind each piece rather than focusing solely on the “how”. Some of the most famous works of art are also the most taken for granted, and it is this easy dismissal that the series seeks to challenge.