Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty


I just finished watching a recent BBC docudrama series (shown here on PBS) called Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty about Michelangelo and his rivalry with Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. It was excellent -- highly recommended! In particular, it did a great job of exploring the political, religious and cultural turbulence of the Renaissance itself in which these artistic geniuses created their masterpieces.

I've been a Michelangelo fanatic since I was a teenager. When The Rare One and I were in Italy in 2008, it kind of turned into a Michelangelo Road Tour in many ways -- it was such a "bucket list dream come true" to finally see in person so many of his best works of art!

And now this series has reignited that old passion for Michelangelo again. Can other post(s) be far behind?

20 comments:

roentare said...

It seems the series has effectively reignited your longstanding passion for Michelangelo

Marie Smith said...

I remember the thrill of seeing the Sistine Chapel. One of the great thrills of a lifetime!

Bob said...

I don't know how I missed this. I'm going to see if I can find.

BSB said...

"The Rare One" is way better than "significant other."
I also like "She Who Must Be Obeyed" (aka my mother), "woman of the house" (my wife), and "my lovely" (also my wife).
She calls me S.P.O.A. (Sexy Piece Of A**).

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ BSB -- Those are all good ones! When The Rare One and I were a couple, I called her My Rare One in this blog. Now that we are not a couple but still friends, I call her The Rare One instead, so my readers will know who I'm referring to but in a different context now.

ArcticFox said...

i often refer to my SOH as my First Prize!!

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

Oh, this slaps!
I'm a sucker for all the hot goss on these people. They were incredible artists (and most likely what we know as gay nowadays). They knew DRAMA.
Going to the PBS app right now to see what I can get.

XOXO

Tom said...

...I have not seen it.

Travel said...

We watched parts of it, or rather it played in the background while I read.

sirkkis said...

The tv serie of the life of Michele Angelo was pressented in the Finnish Television not a long time ago, and I watched it. In the Renaissance time ther lived several master painters. I admire them all 🤩

Moving with Mitchell said...

I, too, have been a Michelangelo fanatic since I was young. I need to see this. Thanks!

Mistress Maddie said...

Why do I have a feeling there's going to be a Michelangelo meme Friday coming??

I think his works are nice too he's probably my favorite. I would love to see some of his big murals that are painted Italy and Cathedrals and such. The other place in Italy I've been was the Italian Riviera.

e said...

Lucky for you he was so incredibly prolific! Even all these centuries later his art is reproduced everywhere. That's some staying power!

Bill said...

I haven't seen it either. Will have to try and find it.

MELODY JACOB said...

Oh, a docudrama about Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael. It is so special you got to see his art in Italy. It makes sense why you are still a Michelangelo fanatic.

DVArtist said...

I will put this on my list. Thanks

Ellen D. said...

PBS has some of the best shows!

Barbara said...

I'm so jealous. I'm a big fan too. I've got this show on my saved list but it kind of slipped from my mind. Now that you've reminded me, I can't wait to see it.

Mike said...

It's a good thing you saw it when you did. These days you might get blasted with a water gun by irritated Europeans that are fed up with tourists.

Kirk said...

I love the name of that series. Doesn't look like it's dry history at all.