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The Knight's Tale

Episode 2 of 3

Celebrating the age of armour, Tobias Capwell tells how Henry VIII fused German technology with Renaissance artistry to become the image of the perfect knight.

Art historian and curator Tobias Capwell celebrates the great age of armour. Referencing the unstoppable rise of the Royal Almain Armoury at Greenwich, he tells the forgotten story of how Henry VIII fused German high technology with Renaissance artistry in the pursuit of one aim - to become the very image of the perfect knight. Using the talents of foreign craftsmen and his court artist Hans Holbein, Henry transformed himself into a living metal sculpture. His daughter Elizabeth I further exploited that image, making her courtiers parade before her in the most innovative and richly decorated works ever commissioned in steel.

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 7 Feb 2022 23:00
BBC Four

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The Golden Age of Silver

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The Blacksmith's Tale

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Clips

See all clips from The Knight's Tale (3)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    Massive Attack, Horace Andy

    Angel

  • 00:01

    Richard Wagner

    Die Walkure: Prelude To Act I

  • 00:25

    Dave Brubeck

    Take Five

  • 00:32

    Massive Attack

    Heat Miser

  • 00:40

    Massive Attack

    Angel (feat. Horace Andy)

Credits

Presenter Tobias Capwell
Director Ben McPherson
Executive Producer Franny Moyle

Broadcasts