1/4 British Masters - 3. A New Jerusalem

• British Masters
Episode 3/3 In the decades after the Second World War, at a time when many had lost their faith in humanity, British artists turned to the great figurative painting tradition to address the biggest questions of all: what does it mean to be human and how do we create a more humane world? Such existential angst is captured in Lucien Freud's harrowing early portraits and Graham Sutherland's Pembrokeshire landscapes. Francis Bacon stared deep into his own soul to explore the human capacity for evil, while Richard Hamilton warned against the false hope of consumerism. As national pessimism gave way to a new optimism, David Hockney dared to suggest Paradise might be available to us all. But in the early 1970s, just as the world finally began to recognise the genius of Britain's painterly tradition, young artists at home turned against it.

[@melmagicspell4033]

I thought there was a kind of deliberate lack of respect when he was filmed remaining seated as others rose for prayer, bu his description of the Crucifixion is very moving.

[@MrMjp58]

I watched this as it was broadcast. A really good series. I doubt anything like it would be made now for all sorts of reasons... On a walk, around 18 months ago, I seemed increasingly aware of the decay and degrading of physical structures around me - both natural and man-made. It was only an impression on that day, but I'd not noticed it before and it now seems to have been prophetic in some way.

[@broodacres7135]

magnificent

[@noirdecat2286]

I come here for Dr. James Fox... 😘

[@finch45lear]

Waldemar Januszczak is my favorite.

[@thefrenchdesk]

Uniquely British tradition???

[@spoombung]

This guy makes utterly ludicrous claims in the most amateurish manner possible. Embarrassing.

[@bzxshor67mpts]

Doesn,t seem like you have to be much good these days to be called a master in Art