A Madonna painted by Belgium artist Jan Van Eyck

DESCRIPTION

Picturing Mary is a stunning new high-definition documentary that explores how artistic images of the Virgin have reflected a variety of traditions, devotional practices and cultures across the globe. The one-hour program takes viewers on an artistic journey through history from the earliest times to the present day, offering a visually stunning array of art from twelve locations in eight different countries. The documentary is narrated by actress Jane Seymour and features quotations read by actor James Keach.

Almost all of the artworks featured in Picturing Mary were filmed in situ, in the original settings where they were intended to be viewed in Europe, Africa, America, and Asia, just as they were hundreds of years ago. Those settings include the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa inVenice, Italy, where we find one of the greatest paintings of the Venetian Renaissance, Titian’s 22-foot-high “Assumption. In Bruges, Belgium, Jan van Eyck used what was then a new medium – oil painting – to astonishing effect on full size pictures of Mary. In the Dutch city of Amsterdam, Rembrandt van Rijn created hundreds of etchings, prints and drawings, establishing himself as the greatest illustrator of Scripture ever. Devoted to realism, Rembrandt depicts Mary in “Death of the Virgin” not as the lovely youth often seen, but as a sick old woman.

Through the use of the latest widescreen high definition technology, from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, to Istanbul, Ethiopia, and beyond, Picturing Mary allows viewers to make virtual visits to some of the world’s greatest masterpieces.  

Picturing Mary will be distributed to public television stations nationwide by American Public Television (APT) beginning in December, 2006. For a list of air dates and times, click here.

To order a home DVD copy of Picturing Mary call Thirteen/WNET toll free at 1-800-336-1917.