Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) was one of the great masters of the Italian Renaissance.

An acclaimed genius, Leonardo Da Vinci was also an architect, draftsman, engineer, inventor, mathematician, philosopher and visionary, whose research and studies contributed to many developments in modern day science.

Da Vinci was ever-prepared to call everything into question, or phoenix like, reduce to ashes the creations and intellectual efforts that had absorbed him for years, and start all over again.

Michelangelo (1475-1564) marked the beginning of the modern artist, the artist who claims total freedom with no compromise. As sculptor, painter, architect and poet, he continued the tradition of the early renaissance and pushed it to its extreme. Although working for princes, lords and pontiffs, he turned the traditional status of the artist from that of a craftsman subordinated to the wishes of his patron into that of a creator with the ultimate power to make aesthetic decisions, prepared to risk his career fro the sake of individualism and freedom.

Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863) is credited with bridging the gap between the painterly traditions of the Old Masters and the new-wave artists of the French Romantic movement. His artistic inspiration came chiefly from historical and contemporary events or from literature. His subjects ranged from sumptuous bouquets of flowers, to saints, warriors and mythical goddesses, to Arab hunting scenes with ferocious tigers.

Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) was transformed by his discovery of the Montmartre section in Paris. He devoted his artistic talent to painting this unique microcosm. Toulouse-Lautrec is remembered above all as a witty and playful observer of his age.

It was in his portraits of the diverse variety of people of Montmartre that he could most freely express himself as a caricaturist. Acclaimed in his lifetime as a poster designer and illustrator, it was only a few years after his death that he became famous as a painter.

Kurt Schwitters (1887-1948) was one of the leading protagonists of the 20th century. He was a painter, sculptor, architect, poet and playwright, as well as a utopian romantic, subverting and transforming everything he touched into art.

This DVD provides a complete look at the works of the German artist, now best known for his collages and junk sculpture. Schwitters began painting as an expressionist, but in 1919 he turned to collage, incorporating into his works trash such as train tickets and newspapers, which he exploited for their color, texture and surprise value. Includes many of Schwitters' most famous creations, filmed during an exhibition of his works at the George Pompidou Museum.

Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966) was one of the greatest American painters and illustrators of the 20th century. Brilliant blue skies, pastoral landscapes and captivating figures are his art's signature characteristic. The scope of his work was enormous, including covers for magazines, theater sets, paintings, photographs, as well as murals and graphic work ranging from posters to calendars.

Throughout his long career, Parrish's use of the latest technical innovations fostered an exploration of the relationship between fine and commercial art. These technical advances also allowed reproductions of Parrish's art to find their way into most American homes.

Also available individually:
D2105 Leonardo da Vinci
D2106 Michelangelo
D2107 Eugene Delacroix
D2108 Toulouse-Lautrec
D2109 Kurt Schwitters
D2110 Maxfield Parrish