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How masterpieces emerged from an era of violence and upheaval on RENAISSANCE: THE BLOOD AND THE BEAUTY – starting July 8 at 9 pm
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Premieres Tuesdays, July 8-22, 2025 at 9:00 pm
on PBS and Streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app
New Three-Part Series from the BBC Explores How the Masterpieces of Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and Raphael Emerged from an Era of Violence and Upheaval
Some of the greatest works of art in Western civilization were created during one of the bloodiest chapters in European history. RENAISSANCE: THE BLOOD AND THE BEAUTY, a new three-part documentary series, explores the extraordinary lives and rivalries of three towering figures of the Italian Renaissance—Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael—whose timeless masterpieces were forged amid brutal political power struggles, warfare, and religious upheaval. RENAISSANCE: THE BLOOD AND THE BEAUTY premieres Tuesdays, July 8–22, 9:00–10:00 p.m. on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS app.
Framed through the eyes of an aging Michelangelo, whose long life spanned this extraordinary period, the series traces more than sixty years, beginning with the Pazzi Conspiracy of 1478 and concluding with the unveiling of The Last Judgement in 1541. Through stunning visuals, compelling storytelling, and historical insight, the series reveals how these artists battled for favor, risked everything in service of their patrons, and reshaped the world’s understanding of art and the artist.
Episode 1: “Rise” – Tuesday, July 8, 9:00–10:00 p.m.
Michelangelo and Leonardo struggle to win work in the brutal world of Renaissance Italy, navigating the shifting politics of powerful patrons and violent city-states. In Florence, young Michelangelo rises under the Medici’s patronage while Leonardo builds his reputation in Milan. Political upheaval and changing attitudes disrupt their careers and sets the stage for an artistic rivalry.