Customer Reviews:
A plain good travel story.......2008-01-09
An intelligent, perceptive and at times mischievous look at the paintings and architecture as seen by 18th century Grand Tourists. Brian Sewell is witty and fastidious in his treatment of the subject matter, an eloquent and slow-paced delivery making every work of art seem all the more fascinating. At times emotional but never patronising, I can't think of a nicer way to experience Italian culture from the comfort of your sofa.
Classic Sewell.......2006-11-17
As much as many people find Brian Sewell to be insufferably pompous, he comes into his own when the subject matter fires his imagination, and for all Italophiles this should be on their Christmas list. Brian takes the viewer on a splendid tour of the peninsula aboard his left-hand-drive Mercedes, stopping to ruminate on the worthy artistic, cultural and architectural aspects of the country, while frequently underlining the more base motives of 18th-century Grand Tourists - sex, drink, and gambling.
Added to the marvellous recollections, interpreted with impish vigour by Brian, are his own observations on the body beautiful, and how Italian art's seemingly pious veneer conceals a perennial obsession with the flesh. Italian history has never seemed such fun.
Entertaining and Educational.......2006-09-11
This series is like a more scholarly version of the Naked Pilgrim. Mr Sewell seems to undertake the task with more rigour than last time, whilst still leaving room for his contrasting fascination with all things sexual and debauched (especially the former). Mr Sewell even manages a few brilliant comic turns along the way, whilst at the same time always trying to resist the customary cliched demands of television. Highly recommended for anyone wanting an entertaining overview of Italian art and history.
A tour de force from the grand Brian Sewell!.......2006-08-18
If only more people were like Brian Sewell then the world would be a finer place. This DVD, the follow-up to his erudite 'Naked Pigrim', shows Brian doing what he does best. Passionate and damning about his subjects combined with a lusty appreciation of the sexual appetites and mores of the eighteenth century Grand Tourists, Brian fires up the Mercedes one more time for a trip around Italy once seen as a huge museum of Western Culture.
This is a 2 CD set, much longer than The Naked Pilgrim which means more classic Sewell rumination and even more shots of his wonderful white umbrella.
Go on, treat yourself!
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