BBC One Show “Renaissance: The Blood and The Beauty”

Decent docudrama.

I quite enjoyed the historical contexts to the political violence that propelled and fuelled the flourishing of art in 15th century Italy.

Charles Dance plays an elderly Michelangelo and he’s an engaging actor full of the theatrical relish.

I thought there was too much “expert” commentary over amateurish re-enactments. The experts were a bit disappointing.

I had forgotten just how turbulent the high renaissance was. The different warring kingdoms of Italy and invasion by France culminating in the Sack of Rome and the Savararolla episode of Florentine history. I had also forgotten just how rotten this Popes were (esp. Julius II).

I had also forgotten that Michelangelo’s “David” had a fig-leaf drilled into it to cover David’s genitalia. How insulting!

The funniest story was Michelangelo, as an apprentice, in the Brancacci Chapel getting into an argument with a fellow artist and getting punched in the face, breaking his nose.

Then, there’s the subject of Michelangelo’s purported homosexuality. Who knows? Well, Florence had a “religious police” (Officers of the Night) to find and punish gay men. Allusions are made of Michelangelo playing a dangerous game.

All-in-all, a fun docudrama. Not a whole lot of new information, just entertainment. 

Score = 3/5 ★★★☆☆