The Essay Episodes Available now
Illington, Norfolk—Churchcrawls in Solitude
1/5 Diarmaid MacCulloch explores his life and work through five of Britain's historic churches
Rebirth—Blood and Bronze
10/10 Cellini’s violent life leaves behind a controversial legacy.
Sex and Death—Blood and Bronze
9/10 Cellini’s misconduct leads him back to jail, where he completes another masterpiece.
Forging the Renaissance—Blood and Bronze
8/10 Back in Florence, Cellini works for Cosimo de’ Medici and creates his greatest work.
Golden Years—Blood and Bronze
7/10 Cellini arrives in Fontainebleau to work for Francis I.
Crime and Punishment—Blood and Bronze
6/10 Cellini is imprisoned for over a year in Rome, enduring various attempts on his life.
The Scorpion—Blood and Bronze
5/10 Cellini roams between the great Italian courts, making art and causing trouble.
Death in Florence—Blood and Bronze
4/10 On his return to Florence, Cellini experiences the horrors of the plague.
Storming the Capitol—Blood and Bronze
3/10 Having built a career as a goldsmith, Cellini becomes a soldier during the Sack of Rome.
Overture—Blood and Bronze
2/10 Cellini’s early years are spent training as a musician.
