Blood And Bronze

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

A Portrait Of The Artist

20210322

20230724 (R3)

Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and wants us to take a fresh look at a period in European history usually associated with beauty, harmony and art. His approach contains a health warning: the Renaissance was a lot darker and violent than many of us have imagined. Retracing the life of Benvenuto Cellini through his shocking autobiography, Jerry reveals how this was a time of conflict as well as beauty, creativity as well as tyranny. And as he gets to grips with such a charismatic yet dangerous character as Cellini, a new discovery brings the story up to date. On the market for over $100 million, a Russian art dealer has offered a self-portrait' by the hand of Cellini. But Cellini worked in gold and silver, bronze and marble. He didn't paint! Or did he?

Jerry Brotton is on the trail of a Renaissance man and a modern-day mystery.

Reader Marco Gambino

Producer Mark Rickards

A Whistledown Scotland Production

Professor Jerry Brotton explores the darker side of the Italian Renaissance.

Overture

20210323

20230725 (R3)

Music is at the heart of the Renaissance, and Cellini's early years are spent training as a musician. Renaissance music was all about harmony, but Cellini was ruled by other passions. Jerry looks at his early years and the conflicts that soon arise in a volatile youth.

With specially commissioned music to recreate the sound of Renaissance Florence.

Reader Marco Gambino

Producer Mark Rickards

A Whistledown Scotland Production

Storming The Capitol

20210324

20230726 (R3)

Having built a career as a goldsmith, Cellini turns soldier during one of the Renaissance's most terrible moments: the Sack of Rome in 1527. As he defends the city, he melts down the pope's jewellery as the fighting reaches its climax.

Reader Marco Gambino

Producer Mark Rickards

A Whistledown Scotland Production

Having built a career as a goldsmith, Cellini becomes a soldier during the Sack of Rome.

Death In Florence

20210325

20230727 (R3)

On his return to Florence, Cellini experiences the horrors of the plague. It is a recurrent feature of daily life in the Renaissance with shocking contemporary resonances. And Cellini has his own very personal brush with death.

Reader Marco Gambino

Producer Mark Rickards

A Whistledown Scotland Production

05 LAST

The Scorpion

20210326

20230728 (R3)

Cellini roams between the great Italian Renaissance courts, at ease in making art and causing trouble. He conjures devils in the Colosseum and murders his brother's killer before being falsely imprisoned for stealing the pope's jewels.

Reader Marco Gambino

Producer Mark Rickards

A Whistledown Scotland Production

Cellini roams between the great Italian courts, making art and causing trouble.

Crime And Punishment

20210329

20230731 (R3)

Cellini is imprisoned for over a year in Rome, enduring various attempts on his life before he has a life-changing religious vision. On his release, he kills again and heads for France.

Reader Marco Gambino

Producer Mark Rickards

A Whistledown Scotland Production

Cellini is imprisoned for over a year in Rome, enduring various attempts on his life.

Golden Years

20210330

20230801 (R3)

Cellini arrives in Fontainebleau to work for the French king, Francis I. He makes his first masterpiece, a golden salt cellar. But his repeated sexual indiscretions soon catch up with him.

Reader Marco Gambino

Producer Mark Rickards

A Whistledown Scotland Production

Cellini arrives in Fontainebleau to work for Francis I.

Forging The Renaissance

20210331

20230802 (R3)

Back in Florence, Cellini works for Cosimo de' Medici. He makes his greatest work, a huge bronze statue of Perseus beheading Medusa. It becomes a defining image of the Renaissance and cements Cellini's reputation.

Reader Marco Gambino

Producer Mark Rickards

A Whistledown Scotland Production

Back in Florence, Cellini works for Cosimo de' Medici and creates his greatest work.

Sex And Death

20210401

20230803 (R3)

At the height of his success, Cellini's violence and sexual misconduct lead him back to jail. In disgrace he completes another masterpiece, his life-size marble crucifix. It is a final triumph of the Renaissance before his death in 1571.

Reader Marco Gambino

Producer Mark Rickards

A Whistledown Scotland Production

Cellini's misconduct leads him back to jail, where he completes another masterpiece.

Rebirth

20210402

20230804 (R3)

Cellini's violent life leaves behind a complex and controversial legacy. And there is a final twist: the recent appearance of a painting alleged to be his self-portrait. But is it genuine? Jerry manages to track down the Russian art dealer who owns it.

Reader Marco Gambino

Producer Mark Rickards

A Whistledown Scotland Production

Cellini's violent life leaves behind a controversial legacy.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	A Portrait Of The Artist	20210322	20230724 (R3)	Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and wants us to take a fresh look at a period in European history usually associated with beauty, harmony and art. His approach contains a health warning: the Renaissance was a lot darker and violent than many of us have imagined. Retracing the life of Benvenuto Cellini through his shocking autobiography, Jerry reveals how this was a time of conflict as well as beauty, creativity as well as tyranny. And as he gets to grips with such a charismatic yet dangerous character as Cellini, a new discovery brings the story up to date. On the market for over $100 million, a Russian art dealer has offered a self-portrait' by the hand of Cellini. But Cellini worked in gold and silver, bronze and marble. He didn't paint! Or did he? Jerry Brotton is on the trail of a Renaissance man and a modern-day mystery. Reader Marco Gambino Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production Professor Jerry Brotton explores the darker side of the Italian Renaissance.
02	Overture	20210323	20230725 (R3)	Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and wants us to take a fresh look at a period in European history usually associated with beauty, harmony and art. His approach contains a health warning: the Renaissance was a lot darker and violent than many of us have imagined. Retracing the life of Benvenuto Cellini through his shocking autobiography, Jerry reveals how this was a time of conflict as well as beauty, creativity as well as tyranny. Music is at the heart of the Renaissance, and Cellini's early years are spent training as a musician. Renaissance music was all about harmony, but Cellini was ruled by other passions. Jerry looks at his early years and the conflicts that soon arise in a volatile youth. With specially commissioned music to recreate the sound of Renaissance Florence. Reader Marco Gambino Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production
03	Storming The Capitol	20210324	20230726 (R3)	Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and wants us to take a fresh look at a period in European history usually associated with beauty, harmony and art. His approach contains a health warning: the Renaissance was a lot darker and violent than many of us have imagined. Retracing the life of Benvenuto Cellini through his shocking autobiography, Jerry reveals how this was a time of conflict as well as beauty, creativity as well as tyranny. Having built a career as a goldsmith, Cellini turns soldier during one of the Renaissance's most terrible moments: the Sack of Rome in 1527. As he defends the city, he melts down the pope's jewellery as the fighting reaches its climax. Reader Marco Gambino Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production Having built a career as a goldsmith, Cellini becomes a soldier during the Sack of Rome.
04	Death In Florence	20210325	20230727 (R3)	Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and wants us to take a fresh look at a period in European history usually associated with beauty, harmony and art. His approach contains a health warning: the Renaissance was a lot darker and violent than many of us have imagined. Retracing the life of Benvenuto Cellini through his shocking autobiography, Jerry reveals how this was a time of conflict as well as beauty, creativity as well as tyranny. On his return to Florence, Cellini experiences the horrors of the plague. It is a recurrent feature of daily life in the Renaissance with shocking contemporary resonances. And Cellini has his own very personal brush with death. Reader Marco Gambino Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production
05 LAST	The Scorpion	20210326	20230728 (R3)	Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and wants us to take a fresh look at a period in European history usually associated with beauty, harmony and art. His approach contains a health warning: the Renaissance was a lot darker and violent than many of us have imagined. Retracing the life of Benvenuto Cellini through his shocking autobiography, Jerry reveals how this was a time of conflict as well as beauty, creativity as well as tyranny. Cellini roams between the great Italian Renaissance courts, at ease in making art and causing trouble. He conjures devils in the Colosseum and murders his brother's killer before being falsely imprisoned for stealing the pope's jewels. Reader Marco Gambino Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production Cellini roams between the great Italian courts, making art and causing trouble.
06	Crime And Punishment	20210329	20230731 (R3)	Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and wants us to take a fresh look at a period in European history usually associated with beauty, harmony and art. His approach contains a health warning: the Renaissance was a lot darker and violent than many of us have imagined. Retracing the life of Benvenuto Cellini through his shocking autobiography, Jerry reveals how this was a time of conflict as well as beauty, creativity as well as tyranny. Cellini is imprisoned for over a year in Rome, enduring various attempts on his life before he has a life-changing religious vision. On his release, he kills again and heads for France. Reader Marco Gambino Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production Cellini is imprisoned for over a year in Rome, enduring various attempts on his life.
07	Golden Years	20210330	20230801 (R3)	Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and wants us to take a fresh look at a period in European history usually associated with beauty, harmony and art. His approach contains a health warning: the Renaissance was a lot darker and violent than many of us have imagined. Retracing the life of Benvenuto Cellini through his shocking autobiography, Jerry reveals how this was a time of conflict as well as beauty, creativity as well as tyranny. Cellini arrives in Fontainebleau to work for the French king, Francis I. He makes his first masterpiece, a golden salt cellar. But his repeated sexual indiscretions soon catch up with him. Reader Marco Gambino Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production Cellini arrives in Fontainebleau to work for Francis I.
08	Forging The Renaissance	20210331	20230802 (R3)	Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and wants us to take a fresh look at a period in European history usually associated with beauty, harmony and art. His approach contains a health warning: the Renaissance was a lot darker and violent than many of us have imagined. Retracing the life of Benvenuto Cellini through his shocking autobiography, Jerry reveals how this was a time of conflict as well as beauty, creativity as well as tyranny. Back in Florence, Cellini works for Cosimo de' Medici. He makes his greatest work, a huge bronze statue of Perseus beheading Medusa. It becomes a defining image of the Renaissance and cements Cellini's reputation. Reader Marco Gambino Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production Back in Florence, Cellini works for Cosimo de' Medici and creates his greatest work.
09	Sex And Death	20210401	20230803 (R3)	Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and wants us to take a fresh look at a period in European history usually associated with beauty, harmony and art. His approach contains a health warning: the Renaissance was a lot darker and violent than many of us have imagined. Retracing the life of Benvenuto Cellini through his shocking autobiography, Jerry reveals how this was a time of conflict as well as beauty, creativity as well as tyranny. At the height of his success, Cellini's violence and sexual misconduct lead him back to jail. In disgrace he completes another masterpiece, his life-size marble crucifix. It is a final triumph of the Renaissance before his death in 1571. Reader Marco Gambino Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production Cellini's misconduct leads him back to jail, where he completes another masterpiece.
10	Rebirth	20210402	20230804 (R3)	Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and wants us to take a fresh look at a period in European history usually associated with beauty, harmony and art. His approach contains a health warning: the Renaissance was a lot darker and violent than many of us have imagined. Retracing the life of Benvenuto Cellini through his shocking autobiography, Jerry reveals how this was a time of conflict as well as beauty, creativity as well as tyranny. Cellini's violent life leaves behind a complex and controversial legacy. And there is a final twist: the recent appearance of a painting alleged to be his self-portrait. But is it genuine? Jerry manages to track down the Russian art dealer who owns it. Reader Marco Gambino Producer Mark Rickards A Whistledown Scotland Production Cellini's violent life leaves behind a controversial legacy.