Customer Reviews

Sister Wendy's Story of Painting (Box Set) [VHS]

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My husband and I have now seen the full Story of Painting set and Sister WEndy's Conversation with Bill Moyers -- Sister Wendy is one of the most gifted teachers of art history we have encountered. She is masterful in her explanations of the art within the context of the artist's personalities and lives. Her passion for the subject and sense of humor commands your attention. It is impossible not to hang onto her every word and really feel and understand her love of the subject. Nothwithstanding the fact that she omits mention of major historic tragedies(e.g.,the Spanish inquisition)my husband and I both felt we gained a deeper understanding of both art and history as a testimony to the strength of the human spirit. This is a must see!

Prior to encountering Sr. Wendy, I liked art. Through Sr. Wendy, I have come to love it. One might first be struck by her rather odd appearance -- she is a rather frumpy nun. But the second thing one notices, and what one is ultimately swept up by, is her passion for art.

She approaches art as a lover, rather than as a critic. Yes, she is willing to make judgments about what she likes and what she doesn't like. But one has the impression that she approaches all art expecting to be pleased. That attitude makes her willing to *look* at the art with her whole being. And in that open act of looking, she sees a lot. She has the further gift of being able to clearly articulate what she has seen.

In this series of videos, Sr. Wendy takes us through the history of art, from the pre-historical art of the caves in France to the modern art galleries in New York today. She allows us to see how art developed, and she sets these developments in their historical context. Nonetheless, the heart of these videos and the secret to Sr. Wendy's success is her ability to see these great works afresh, almost with the eyes of a child. Some of the paintings evoke her delight, others her reverent awe. She has thought about why the paintings elicit these responses, but without losing that primary response. We can't help but be swept up in her enthusiasm.

I've watched these videos several times, and they never get stale. If only they'd be re-issued as DVD's! If you want to know why some people make such a fuss about fine art - these videos are a great place to start. But be warned, you might find yourself suddenly planning your vacations around art museums!

I use this set as part of my beginning art history classes. People like to make fun of Sister Wendy and they are less likely to make fun of the art. The fact that she is not a bit shy about pointing out the sexual nature of many of the pieces gets students on her side after awhile. Sister Wendy gives a good comprehensive overview and, although I don't always agree with her, she sets up great conversations in class. Video is a great way to get students to enjoy art--far better in my opinion than the endless parade of slides we had to endure.

This is a great introduction to the appreciation of western art. Sister Wendy's passion for art is contagious. She gives us new eyes to see. The one big regret is that with such a wide scope to cover, she could only be rather cursory in her comments. I would love to watch her commenting in greater depth on some selected paintings, like the 100 Great Paintings series or even devote a whole hour to each painting, like Vision on Art--Jan van Eyck -- one of the best videos on art that I've seen.

Who'd've thought that a nun, a woman dedicated to a life of religion and chastity and serving the church would have such an insight on the sexual content of works of art? Well, that sounds a bit ignorant on my part, but Sister Wendy does do an excellent job at giving us a guided tour and commentary of some of history's most beloved and admired works of art. Some works are not included in art history books used by educational institutes and some are so discussed that the viewer can almost take pride in hearing that Sister Wendy shares their opinion. This is a great collection to add to any art education/art history curriculum (high school/college and edited versions for middle school).

Sister Wendy's Story of Painting is the best art informative video that I've ever watched. Sister Wendy is soooo cool! The videos are quite entertaining and refreshing. A must for any art lover!

I saw this series on public television, and couldn't wait until the station took a break so I could order the video. I am a frequent museum-goer and rent the audio guide to every museum show; but no one has ever made paintings come alive as Sister Wendy has.

I have never seen nor heard a better interpretation of art before. Sister Wendy is such a breath of fresh air! A must see for every art lover! Her book, The Story Of Painting, is a great companion, too.

These series are a surrealist masterpiece in their own right! Who would have imagined a sweet old Catholic nun describing 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon' with such passion and expertise! Sister Wendy deserved to be painted by Andy Warhol as a pop-art icon!

Not that the BBC programs are flawless, mind you: Velázquez, for instance, is not as thoroughly analized as, say, Turner, although he's a far superior artist, if not the greatest of them all. And, due to the scope it tries to cover, the show I think merely gives a somewhat simplistic overview of its infinitely much richer subject. But hey, let's not forget this is TV, and as such, this is the best ever made on this matter!

If I were you, I'd buy both the box and the book. What a match made in Heaven!

If you have any interest in art history, this quick 5 hour tour de force provides a great overview. I bought this at a NPR video sale and wasn't exactly sure what I was getting. I started watching it one evening and found Sister Wendy to have all the attributes and humanity of my best and most admired college professors. It's something I will no doubt watch again and again. Beautifully done.