Educational Media Reviews Online

Great Artists One with Tim Marlow is a lively introduction to 14 of history’s most celebrated painters. In 14 episodes of approximately 23 minutes apiece, Marlow offers fast paced but clear and concise commentary on the works, lives, and influence of these artists.

Marlow, an art historian, covers a wide variety of artists in this series, with the majority practicing during the Renaissance era. Here is a complete listing of featured artists: El Greco, Rubens, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Turner, Van Gogh, Giotto, Leonardo, Dürer, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and Bruegel.

The best use is made of each episode’s short running time, covering the respective artist’s background, source of notoriety, and artistic technique, as well as a discussion of their major works. The details of the works of art are shown and discussed with especial vibrancy. Close ups of the figure’s facial expression in a Velasquez painting clearly illustrate his status as one of the great portraitists, for instance. Marlow frequently discusses the subtle effect of things such as a figure’s positioning and proportions, the details of a painting’s background, even the artist’s brush strokes. While major events in the lives of the artists are mentioned, the focus is clearly on showcasing the details of their craft, zeroing in on what makes each master and the influences of their location unique. Each episode is filmed on location where the artists painted and where their works are housed.

The technical merits of this series are excellent. Marlow speaks quickly but accessibly, and brisk background music sets a quick pace for each episode. Given the short running times, the series seems to cater to the tight schedules and short attention spans of today’s viewers. The series is engaging enough to appeal to any casual art enthusiast (who may even learn new facts about the most iconic works of Leonardo and Michelangelo) as well as students of art and art educators.