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.
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Artemisia Gentileschi: Talent and Torment (Part 1)
Saison 1 · Épisode 6
lundi 30 mars 2026 • Durée 37:50
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.
If you would like to see the artworks being discussed in this podcast, feel free to switch to video in your podcast app at anytime.
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
Hans Holbein the Younger: Painter to Henry VIII (Part 2)
Épisode 4
mardi 17 mars 2026 • Durée 53:35
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.
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 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)
Épisode 3
mardi 10 mars 2026 • Durée 47:25
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.
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 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)
Épisode 2
mardi 3 mars 2026 • Durée 51:38
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.
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 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)
Épisode 1
mardi 24 février 2026 • Durée 44:49
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.
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 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
lundi 16 février 2026 • Durée 02:24
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.
Katsushika Hokusai: The Man Behind the Wave (Part 1)
Épisode 8
lundi 13 avril 2026 • Durée 53:24
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.
If you want to see the artworks being discussed in this podcast, please switch to video in your podcast app at any time.
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)
Épisode 7
lundi 6 avril 2026 • Durée 46:33
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.
If you would like to see the artworks being discussed in this podcast, switch to video in your podcast app at anytime.
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
Katsushika Hokusai: The Endless Creative (Part 2)
Épisode 9
lundi 20 avril 2026 • Durée 54:18
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.
If you would like to see the artworks included in this episode, switch to video in your podcast app at any time.
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