Songs of Praise

Art and Christianity (2024x21)

Air date: May 26, 2024

To celebrate its 200th anniversary, Aled Jones visits the National Gallery on London’s Trafalgar Square. Aled meets director Dr Gabriele Finaldi for an exclusive tour behind the scenes of the gallery, which boasts one of the largest collections of religious art in the world. He discovers the fascinating stories behind masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Caravaggio, just some of the paintings that attract three million visitors each year. Looking back over its 200-year history, Aled finds out about moments that have shaped the gallery’s place in British culture, including the war years when it became a home of free classical music concerts to inspire people at a time of suffering. Also, Aled meets Fr Patrick van der Vorst, the founder of a website that seeks to bring people closer to God through a deeper understanding of art. Patrick takes Aled to The Supper at Emmaus, a painting that depicts the moment Christ’s disciples recognise Jesus in his risen form.