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Private Notes
The Louvre possesses some of the most important works painted by Raphael at the end of his career, including the Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione. Experts scrutinize and debate that masterpiece, the inscrutable Self-Portrait with a Friend, and Saint Michael Vanquishing Satan, which has barely survived five centuries of botched restorations.
When is a Rembrandt not a Rembrandt? In the past, more than 800 paintings were attributed to the Dutch master; today that number has dropped to 300. This episode looks closely at several authenticated Rembrandts, including Bathsheba at Her Bath, Philosopher in Meditation, and Carcass of Beef (Slaughtered Ox).
Although the Louvre has the world's largest collection of Poussins, this episode was filmed at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lyon shortly after it acquired The Flight into Egypt (for ?17 million). Experts focus on that painting and its colorful history, which includes a lengthy trial over its ownership.
Among the Louvre's 13 Watteaus are some of his most famous and beautiful works. Each one is an enigma. Watteau's paintings are not signed or dated, and their meanings are ambiguous; their titles were made up by engravers after his death. Experts attempt to pierce the mystery of Pierrot (Gilles), Pilgrimage to Cythera, and other great paintings.
For all of his genius and immense productivity, Leonardo left only about 15 known paintings, seven of which are in the Louvre. Experts examine and discuss several in detail, including La Belle Ferronnière (Portrait of a Woman), St. John the Baptist, and the Mona Lisa, the most famous painting in the world.
