Stories of Art

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Latest Episodes:

Vermeer's First Masterpiece: The Milkmaid Jul 20, 2026

Who was Vermeer? And why is his painting of a humble kitchen maid considered one of the greatest achievements of the Dutch Golden Age? Is The Milkmaid laden with hidden religious and erotic meanings, or simply a perfectly realised depiction of everyday life? Join Alastair and James as they unravel the many mysteries of Vermeer's first masterpiece.

If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time.

Artworks in this episode:

Johannes Vermeer, The Milkmaid, 1657-58, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Gerard ter Borch, The Letter, 1660-65, The Royal Collection, London

Jan Steen, The Feast of St. Nicholas, 1663-65, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Carel Fabritius, A View of Delft, with a Musical Instrument Seller's Stall, 1652, The National Gallery, London

Johannes Vermeer, Saint Praxedis, c.1655, National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo

Johannes Vermeer, The Procuress, 1656, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden

Johannes Vermeer, Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window, c. 1657-59, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden

Domenico Fiasella, Queen Artemisia, c. 1645, Private Collection

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram and Laura Sovilla
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

00:00 Introduction: The Milkmaid
05:35 The Dutch Golden Age and Delft
08:57 Vermeer's Early Life and Family
21:51 Vermeer's Early Works
28:19 Analyzing The Milkmaid
45:22 Meaning and Interpretation
1:02:41 The 1660s: Vermeer at His Peak
1:03:31 The Disaster Year and Vermeer's Death

Frida Kahlo: A Star is Born (Part 3) Jul 13, 2026

What led to Frida Kahlo's early death? And with Frida mania in full swing, have we now reached peak Frida? Join Alastair and James in the final episode on the life and work of the great Mexican artist, as they explore her difficult final years and her extraordinary afterlife.

Frida: The Making of an Icon is on at Tate Modern, London until 3rd January 2027.

If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time.
Artworks in this episode:
Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair, 1940, The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Frida Kahlo, The Broken Column, 1944, Museo Dolores Olmedo, Xochimilco, Mexico City
Frida Kahlo, The Wounded Deer, 1946, Private collection

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram and Laura Spada
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Frida Kahlo: The Elephant and the Dove (Part 2) Jul 06, 2026

How did Frida Kahlo manage to emerge from the shadow of her husband, the artist Diego Rivera? And how did a dog with a sock in its mouth lead to the discovery of an affair? Join Alastair and James in the second of three episodes about the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, as they explore her tumultuous life in the 1930s and the development of her singular style of art.

Artworks in this episode include:
Frida Kahlo, Frieda and Diego Rivera, 1931, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco
Frida Kahlo, Henry Ford Hospital, 1932, Dolores Olmedo Museum, Xochimilco, Mexico City
Frida Kahlo, My Birth, 1932, Dolores Olmedo Museum, Xochimilco, Mexico City
Frida Kahlo, A Few Small Nips, 1935 Dolores Olmedo Museum, Xochimilco, Mexico City
Frida Kahlo, The Two Fridas, 1939, Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Frida: The Making of an Icon is on at Tate Modern, London until 3rd January 2027.

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram and Laura Spada
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: The Elephant and the Dove
00:06:24 Diego's Infidelities
00:12:45 San Francisco and Detroit
00:20:08 Henry Ford Hospital and My Birth
00:41:32 A Few Small Nips
00:45:08 Frida's Affairs
00:51:58 Artistic Breakthrough
00:59:10 The Two Fridas

Frida Kahlo: The Girl on the Bus (Part 1) Jun 29, 2026

How did a bus crash change the course of art history? And what is the truth behind Frida Kahlo's family origins? Join Alastair and James as they embarked on a new three part series on the life and work of one of the world's most celebrated artists - Frida Kahlo.

Artworks in this episode include:
Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, 1940, Nickolas Muray Collection of Mexican Art, Harry Ransom Center, Austin, Texas
Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait (With Velvet Dress), 1926, Private Collection

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Frida: The Making of an Icon is on at Tate Modern, London until 3rd January 2027.

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Michelangelo: The Master of Rome (Part 4) Jun 22, 2026

Why was Michelangelo's Last Judgement seen as so controversial in his lifetime? And what, ultimately, has been his influence on the history of art? Join Alastair and James as they tell the story of the last few extraordinary decades in the life of Michelangelo.

Artworks in this episode include:
Michelangelo, The Laurentian Library, 1525-50
Copy after Michelangelo, Ganymede, 16th Century
Luca Signorelli, The Damned in Hell, 1500-03, Orvieto Cathedral, Orvieto
Michelangelo, The Last Judgement, 1535–1541, Vatican City
Michelangelo, Study for The Last Judgement, 1535–1541, The British Museum, London
Etienne DuPérac, Longitudinal Section Showing the Interior of Saint Peter's Basilica
Etienne DuPérac, Piazza del Campidoglio designed by Michelangelo
Michelangelo, Rondanini Pietà, 1552-64, Castello Sforzesco, Milan

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: The Flayed Skin Self-Portrait
00:05:15 The Sack of Rome
00:07:17 Michelangelo's Republican Sympathies
00:17:04 Tommaso di Cavalieri
00:22:45 The Last Judgment Commission
00:37:38 Master Architect
00:42:40 The Final Years
00:48:01 The Rondanini Pietà
00:54:34 Legacy: The Prototype of Artistic Genius

David Hockney Tribute Jun 17, 2026

David Hockney, who died last week, was a giant of British art. In this special episode, Alastair and James pay tribute to the late, great artist.
Photo Credit: Jean-Pierre Goncalves De Lima
Artworks in this episode include:
David Hockney, We Two Boys Together Clinging, 1961
David Hockney, The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020
David Hockney, Mother, Bradford. 19 Feb 1979, 1979
David Hockney, J-P Gonçalves de Lima, 11th, 12th, 13th July 2013, 2013
David Hockney, The Big Hawthorn, 2008
David Hockney, Winter Timber, 2009
David Hockney, Beverly Hills Housewife, 1966-67
David Hockney, A Bigger Splash, 1967
David Hockney, Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, 1970-71
David Hockney, Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy, 1968
Piero della Francesca, The Baptism of Christ, c.1437-45
David Hockney, My Parents, 1977
David Hockney, My Parents and Myself, 1976
David Hockney, Pearblossom Hwy., 11-18th April 1986 (Second Version), 1986
David Hockney, A Year in Normandie, 2020-2021
David Hockney, Bigger Trees Near Warter, 2007
David Hockney, Delphiniums on My Garden Table, July 2025, 2025

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 News of Hockney's Death
00:03:06 An Artist of Joy
00:08:45 A National Treasure and Cultural Icon
00:15:06 California and Double Portraits
00:21:11 Yorkshire Landscapes
00:27:06 How to Look

Michelangelo: The Sistine Chapel Ceiling (Part 3) Jun 15, 2026

The Sistine Chapel ceiling is arguably the most famous work of art in the world, but why was Michelangelo so reluctant to take on the commission? And just what is it about his art that has led so many regard him as a genius? Join Alastair and James in the third of four episodes charting the remarkable life and work of Michelangelo.

Artworks in this episode include:
Attributed to Daniele da Volterra, Portrait of Michelangelo, c.1545, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Raphael, Portrait of Julius II, 1511, The National Gallery, London
Michelangelo, The Sistine Chapel Ceiling, 1508-1512, Vatican CIty
Michelangelo, Moses, 1513-15, Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome
Michelangelo, The Awakening Slave, 1530, Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence
Michelangelo, The Bearded Slave, 1530, Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence
Michelangelo, Atlas, 1530, Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence
Michelangelo, The Rebellious Slave, 1513-15, Musée du Louvre, Paris

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: The Commission
00:03:56 The Sistine Chapel Building
00:07:58 Michelangelo's Reluctance
00:18:14 Early Struggles
00:30:14 The Creation of Adam
00:44:16 Moses
00:58:42 The Unfinished Sculptures

Michelangelo: The Making of David (Part 2) Jun 08, 2026

Why was Michelangelo's David such a revolutionary work of art? And what happened when Michelangelo and Leonardo went head to head on a commission? Join Alastair and James in the second of four episodes charting the life and work of Michelangelo, who many regard as history's greatest artist.

Artworks in this episode include:
Michelangelo, David, 1501-04, Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence
Attributed to Daniele da Volterra, Portrait of Michelangelo, c.1545, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
After Leonardo, Copy of The Battle of Anghiari, 17th century, Musée du Louvre, Paris
Bastiano da Sangallo after Michelangelo, Copy of The Battle of Cascina, 1542, Royal Academy, London.

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction
00:04:34 A Block of Marble
00:12:17 Michelangelo Takes on the Challenge
00:16:44 Where to Place David
00:19:50 Moving the Giant
00:22:41 Analyzing David
00:33:22 Michelangelo's Character
00:40:40 Rivalry with Leonardo da Vinci
00:50:20 Pope Julius II and the Tomb Commission
00:55:55 The Great Escape from Rome

Michelangelo: The Birth of a Genius (Part 1) Jun 01, 2026

Was Michelangelo the greatest artist that ever lived? And where did he learn his unrivalled mastery of marble? Join Alastair and James as they embark on the first of four episodes charting the epic story of the life and work of Michelangelo, known in his lifetime as Il Divino - the divine one.

Artworks in this episode include:

Michelangelo, The Creation of Adam, The Sistine Chapel Ceiling, c.1512, Vatican City
Michelangelo, Head of a Faun, c.1489 (lost 1944)
Michelangelo, Bacchus, 1496-97, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence
Michelangelo, Pietà, 1499, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: The Creation of Adam
00:08:58 Early Life
00:18:23 Apprenticeship with the Ghirlandaio Brothers
00:22:10 The Medici Academy and Lorenzo the Magnificent
00:27:03 The Head of a Faun: A Precocious Talent
00:33:47 Crisis and Exile: The Fall of the Medici
00:37:49 The Sleeping Cupid Forgery
00:40:56 Rome and Cardinal Riario
00:44:55 The Pietà
00:55:14 Rising Fame

The Bust of Nefertiti May 25, 2026

It's one of the most recognisable artworks of the ancient world, but who was Queen Nefertiti? And how did she and her consort, the Pharaoh Akhenaten, revolutionise the art and religion of Ancient Egypt? Join Alastair and James as they explore the mesmerisingly beautiful Bust of Nefertiti.

Artworks in this episode include:
The Bust of Nefertiti, c. 1351-34 BCE, Neues Museum, Berlin
Tomb of Nebamun and Ipuky, 1391-53 BCE, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Statue of Amenhotep III, 1391-53 BCE, The British Museum, London
Colossal Statue of Amenhotep IV, 1350-33 BCE, The Egyptian Museum, Cairo
Colossal Statue of Amenhotep IV, 1350-33 BCE, Luxor Museum, Luxor
Akhenaten, Nefertiti and three of their daughters under the Aten, c. 1351-34 BCE, Neues Museum, Berlin
Bust of Akhenaten, c. 1351-34 BCE, Neues Museum, Berlin
Plaster Head of an Older Woman, c.1353-36 BCE, Neues Museum, Berlin

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: The Discovery of Nefertiti
00:02:14 The Archaeological Dig at Amarna
00:06:14 Ancient Egyptian Art and Society
00:12:50 Amenhotep IV Comes to Power
00:16:51 The Religious Revolution
00:23:31 A New Artistic Style
00:34:35 The New Capital City
00:46:46 The Bust of Nefertiti
00:57:35 Authenticity Debates
01:04:17 The End of the Amarna Period
01:08:22 The Controversial Journey to Berlin
01:13:37 Modern Legacy

Francis Bacon: Triumph and Tragedy (Part 3) May 17, 2026

Following the death of his lover, did Bacon paint one of the darkest paintings in the history 20th century art? And why is opinion so split on Bacon's late work? Join Alastair and James as they argue it out in the last episode on the life and work of one of art history's most colourful characters - Francis Bacon.

Artworks in this episode include:
Micheal Andrews, The Colony Room I, 1962, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester
Francis Bacon, Portrait of Lucian Freud, 1951, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester
Francis Bacon, Henrietta Moraes, 1966, Private Collection
Francis Bacon, Version No. 2 of Lying Figure with Hypodermic Syringe, 1968, Private Collection
Francis Bacon, Miss Muriel Belcher, 1959, Private Collection
Francis Bacon, Triptych, May–June 1973, 1973, Private Collection
Francis Bacon, Study of the Human Body, 1981-82, Musée national d'Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris
Francis Bacon, Second Version of Triptych 1944, 1988, Tate Gallery, London
Francis Bacon, Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, 1944, Tate Gallery, London
Francis Bacon, Blood on the Floor - Painting, 1986, Private Collection
Francis Bacon, Three Studies for Self-Portrait, 1983, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Francis Bacon: Post War Success (Part 2) May 11, 2026

Which portrait by the 17th century Spanish master Velázquez inspired one of Bacon's most celebrated works? And why is his painting Two Figures considered a groundbreaking image? Join Alastair and James as they chart Bacon's life and work in the decades after the Second World War.

Artworks in this episode include:
Francis Bacon, Head VI, 1949, Arts Council Collection, London
Francis Bacon, Painting 1946, 1946, Museum of Modern Art, New York
Francis Bacon, Portrait of Lucian Freud, 1951, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester
Lucian Freud, Portrait of Francis Bacon, 1952
Francis Bacon, Head I, 1949, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Francis Bacon, Head II, 1949, Ulster Museum, Belfast
Francis Bacon, Head III, 1949, Private Collection
Diego Velázquez, Las Meninas, 1656, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid
Diego Velázquez, Portrait of Innocent X, 1650, Galleria Doria Pamphilj, Rome
Francis Bacon, Man in Blue I, 1954, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Francis Bacon, Two Figures, 1953, Private Collection

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: Head VI
00:02:43 Painting 1946: Consolidating Success
00:09:13 Meaning in Bacon's Art
00:11:47 Graham Sutherland and Erica Brausen
00:13:44 Monte Carlo: Gambling and Drift
00:19:04 Lucian Freud: An Intense Friendship
00:26:00 The 1949 Hanover Gallery Show
00:30:59 Velázquez's Pope Innocent X
00:35:25 Head VI
00:42:02 Peter Lacy: The Love of His Life
00:51:54 The Tate Retrospective and Tragedy

Francis Bacon: The Emerging Artist (Part 1) May 04, 2026

How did the horrors of the Second World War influence Francis Bacon's first great masterpiece? And what impact did his troubled childhood have on his life and art? Join Alastair and James as they explore the early life and work of one Britain's greatest artists.

Artworks in this episode include:
Francis Bacon, Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, 1944, Tate Gallery, London
Francis Bacon, Crucifixion, 1933, Private Collection

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault Apr 27, 2026

How did the gruesome aftermath of a shipwreck inspire a masterpiece of Romantic art? And did Théodore Géricault really acquire body parts so he could capture the appearance of rotting flesh? Join Alastair and James as they tell the true story of a doomed ship and an extraordinary painting that laid bare the depths of humanity - The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault.

Artworks in this episode include:
Théodore Géricault, The Raft of the Medusa, 1819, Louvre, Paris
Horace Vernet, Portrait of Théodore Géricault, c.1823, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
Théodore Géricault, An Officer of the Imperial Horse Guards Charging, 1812, Louvre, Paris

To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Katsushika Hokusai: The Endless Creative (Part 2) Apr 20, 2026

Why is Hokusai's Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji so popular? And just how influential were his images on the development of Western art? Join Alastair and James as they explore the final tumultuous, and endlessly creative, decades of Hokusai's long life.

Artworks in this episode include:
Hokusai, Ejiri in Suruga Province, 1830
Hokusai, Under the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave), 1831
Hokusai, Fine Wind, Clear Morning, 1831
Katsushika Ōi, Nightscene in the Yoshiwara, 1860
Tsuyuki Kōshō, Hokusai and Eijo in their lodgings, before 1893
Hokusai, Tiger in the Snow, 1849

To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:19 Hokusai's Artistic Credo
00:03:52 36 Views of Mount Fuji
00:14:58 The Great Wave off Kanagawa
00:30:02 Fire and Tragedy
00:39:13 Final Years
00:43:13 Death and Legacy
00:51:41 The Eternal Wave

Katsushika Hokusai: The Man Behind the Wave (Part 1) Apr 13, 2026

It’s one of the most recognisable images in all of art history, but who was the artist behind The Great Wave? And how did the military dictatorship of the Tokugawa shogunate create the conditions for his art to flourish? Join Alastair and James as they travel to Edo era Japan to explore the truly extraordinary life and work of Katsushika Hokusai.

Artworks in this episode include:
Hokusai, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, 1831
Keisai Eisen, Portrait of Katsushika Hokusai, before 1848
Hokusai, The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife, 1814
Hokusai, Manga, 1814-19

To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Artemisia Gentileschi: Painter to the Medici and Charles I (Part 2) Apr 06, 2026

How did Artemisia Gentileschi become the first woman to be elected to Florence's Academy of Arts? And why did she end up in London working as court painter to Charles I? Join Alastair and James as they explore how Artemisia continued to forge her own path in the final decades of her remarkable life.

Artworks in this episode include:
Artemisia Gentileschi, Self-Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria, c. 1616, National Gallery, London
Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Beheading Holofernes c. 1620, Uffizi Gallery, Florence
Orazio Gentileschi, Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes, 1624, Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford
Caravaggio, Judith Beheading Holofernes c. 1599, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome
Artemisia Gentileschi, Self-Portrait as an Allegory of Painting, c. 1638, The Royal Collection

To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: The Spirit of Caesar in the Soul of a Woman
00:02:34 Judith Beheading Holofernes
00:09:25 The Revenge Debate: Art and Biography
00:14:38 The Love Letters: Francesco Maria Maringhi
00:21:14 Return to Rome and Marriage Breakdown
00:23:03 Venice and the Plague: Moving Through Italy
00:27:11 Naples and the Cabal
00:33:20 Journey to England: Painting for Charles I
00:35:07 The Self-Portrait: Artemisia or Prudentia?
00:39:00 Final Years in Naples and Legacy

Artemisia Gentileschi: Talent and Torment (Part 1) Mar 30, 2026

What lies behind the powerful artworks of Artemisia Gentileschi, one of history's greatest female artists? And how did the trauma of a horrifying rape impact her life and work? Join Alastair and James as they explore the truly extraordinary life and art of Artemisia Gentileschi, today recognised as one of the key figures of the Italian Baroque.

Artworks in this episode include:
Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Beheading Holofernes c. 1620, Uffizi Gallery, Florence
Orazio Gentileschi, Annunciation, 1623, Galleria Sabauda, Turin
Artemisia Gentileschi, Susanna and the Elders, 1610, Schloss Weißenstein, Pommersfelden

To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: Artemisia Gentileschi
00:03:55 Early Life in Rome: A Family of Artists
00:06:49 Childhood Tragedy and Growing Up Fast
00:08:07 Becoming an Artist: Determination and Talent
00:10:06 Susanna and the Elders: A Remarkable First Painting
00:20:52 The Rape
00:27:34 The Trial
00:31:22 Escape to Florence: Marriage and New Beginnings
00:34:08 Florence Years: Tragedy and Triumph

Jean-Michel Basquiat: 80s Art Superstar Mar 24, 2026

He was the star of the 1980s New York art scene, but was Jean-Michel Basquiat a truly great artist or the product of a booming art market? And why did one of his works sell for more than $110 million? Join Alastair and James as they explore the meteoric rise and tragic fall of one of the most distinctive artists of the 1980s.

Artworks in this episode include:

Jean-Michel Basquiat
Untitled, 1982
Acrylic, spray paint and oil stick on canvas, 183,2 × 173 × 4,8 cm
© Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York.
Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s, Inc. 2025

Jean-Michel Basquiat
Untitled, 1982
Oilstick on paper, 75.9 x 56.5 cm.
Private Collection.
© Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York.
Photo: Courtesy of Colour Themes.

Jean-Michel Basquiat
Mosquito Coil, 1982
Oilstick, graphite and charcoal on paper, 76.2 x 109.2 cm,
Private Collection.
© Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York.
Photo: Courtesy of Colour Themes.

The exhibition "Basquiat-Headstrong" is on at Louisiana, Denmark between 30 January - 17 May 2026.

To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction
00:06:19 Middle Class Brooklyn Beginnings
00:08:15 Car Accident and Grey's Anatomy
00:11:38 Family Breakdown and Teenage Rebellion
00:16:42 SAMO: The Birth of a Street Artist
00:15:45 New York in Crisis
00:24:01 Breakthrough: New York New Wave
00:34:15 The Breakthrough Year: 1982
00:37:37 Analyzing Untitled, 1982
00:44:05 Stardom: From Street to Celebrity
00:47:36 Warhol: Mentor, Friend, and Collaborator
00:53:45 Drugs and Decline
00:57:03 Death and Legacy

Hans Holbein the Younger: Painter to Henry VIII (Part 2) Mar 17, 2026

How did Hans Holbein survive the court of Henry VIII when so many around him were executed? What was his influence on how we see the Tudors? Join Alastair and James to find out how Holbein survived one of the most tumultuous periods in English history and emerge as one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance.

Artworks in this episode include:
Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of the Artist's Family, 1528-9, Kunstmuseum, Basel
Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors, 1533, The National Gallery, London
Remigius van Leemput, after Hans Holbein the Younger, Whitehall Mural, 1667, The Royal Collection
Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Christina of Denmark, 1538, The National Gallery
Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Anne of Clèves, 1539, Musée du Louvre, Paris

To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: Holbein's Portrait of Henry VIII
00:01:59 Recap: Holbein's First Journey to England
00:02:46 Return to Basel: The Reformation and Iconoclasm
00:05:44 Family Life and Departure for England
00:10:33 England in Crisis: Henry VIII and the Break from Rome
00:13:35 The Hanseatic Merchants
00:14:32 The Ambassadors: Holbein's Masterpiece
00:25:24 Becoming the King's Painter
00:27:21 The Whitehall Mural: Creating the Iconic Image of Henry VIII
00:34:23 The Pimp's Scout: Painting Potential Brides
00:37:31 Christina of Denmark
00:43:16 Anne of Cleves
00:45:06 Holbein's Genius
00:48:46 Death, Legacy, and the Double Family
00:52:34 Conclusion: The Power of Images

Hans Holbein the Younger: From Basel to the Tudor Court (Part 1) Mar 10, 2026

How did Hans Holbein become court painter to Henry VIII, one of the most notorious monarchs in British history? Without his stunning portraits would the Tudor period burn so brightly in the imagination? Join Alastair and James to find out how Holbein, an artist from a small town in southern Germany ended up kickstarting the story of British art.

Artworks in this episode include:
Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors, 1533, The National Gallery, London
Hans Holbein the Younger, Self Portrait, c.1542-43, Uffizi Gallery, Florence
Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam, 1523, The National Gallery, London
Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Sir Thomas More, 1527, Frick Collection, New York
Hans Holbein the Younger, Study for a Portrait of Thomas More’s Family, c. 1527, Kunstmuseum, Basel

To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: The Ambassadors and Holbein's Legacy
00:04:36 Early Life in Augsburg: A Family of Artists
00:09:54 Moving to Basel
00:12:03 Holbein the Man: Brawls and Beer
00:16:08 The Erasmus Portraits: A Career-Defining Commission
00:26:48 Journey to England: From Basel to the Tudor Court
00:30:13 Tudor England: A Provincial Power with Growing Ambitions
00:34:13 Sir Thomas More: Holbein's First Great English Patron
00:41:12 The Greenwich Revels
00:46:47 Departure from England: An Unfinished Story

Monet and the Birth of Impressionism (Part 2) Mar 03, 2026

When Monet’s Impression, Sunrise was displayed at the First Impressionist Exhibition in 1874 it inspired one critic to scornfully describe the artists on show as ‘Impressionists’. And so the name of one of the most successful movements in the history of art was born.

But was the success of the First Impressionist Exhibition more fiction than fact? Was it really a groundbreaking moment in art history or just a chance for some impoverished young artists to make a bit of cash? Join James and Alastair to find out.

Artworks in this week’s episode include:

Edgar Degas, At the Races in the Countryside, 1869, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, La Loge (The Theatre Box), 1874, The Courtauld Gallery, London

Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris

To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/storiesofart or visit the Heni Talks Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox

Additional Research: Catherine Ingram

Producer and Editor: Ben Harding

Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction and Recap of Part 1
00:00:44 Walking down the Boulevard des Capucines
00:04:27 Inside the Exhibition Space
00:07:37 A Diverse and Eclectic Show
00:10:21 Degas: At the Races in the Countryside
00:13:29 Renoir: The Theatre Box (La Loge)
00:18:09 Monet: Impression Sunrise - The Painting
00:23:33 The Science Behind the Sun
00:28:21 What Makes It Impressionist?
00:31:43 Critical Reception and the Birth of a Name
00:43:38 Financial Failure and Dissolution
00:45:23 Legacy

Monet and the Birth of Impressionism (Part 1) Feb 24, 2026

In 1870s Paris a group of radical young artists led by Monet, Degas and Renoir decide to take on the art establishment and stage their own exhibition, independent of the enormous state-run art show - the Salon. It was a completely new idea that would transform how artists showed their work forever. But first they need to find a venue and recruit more artists to their cause. Then there’s the nagging question - how are they going to pay for it all? And when it finally opens, will anyone come? Join James and Alastair as they tell the story of the First Impressionist Exhibition of 1874, a turning point in the history of art that marked the beginning of a now world-famous art movement - Impressionism.

Artworks in this week’s episode include:

Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris

Jean-Léon Gérôme, L'Éminence Grise, 1873, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Edouard Manet, The Railway, 1873, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Ludovic-Napoléon Lepic, Jupiter, 1861

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox

Additional Research: Catherine Ingram

Producer and Editor: Ben Harding

Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction to Monet's Impression Sunrise
00:05:21 Second Empire France in Crisis
00:10:28 Understanding the Salon System
00:19:17 The 1874 Salon: Conservative vs. Progressive Art
00:31:37 Formation of the Société Anonyme
00:37:41 Nadar's Studio: The Perfect Venue
00:41:57 Preparing for the Exhibition
00:44:26 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

Introducing Stories of Art Feb 16, 2026

Stories of Art brings together art historian Dr. James Fox and art critic Alastair Sooke to uncover the most inspiring and compelling stories from the history of art.

From the lives of the world’s greatest artists to the turning points that changed art, to the hidden histories of great masterpieces, James and Alastair are your guides to the extraordinary characters and fascinating stories that have shaped art history.

Full of insight, expert opinion and humour, Stories of Art is the ultimate deep dive into the history of art.