In each episode, historian Simon Schama discusses a work of art by a great master in his own erudite, unconventional, and somewhat socially engaged style. He focuses not only on art history as such, but especially on the relationship between the work and the historical context of its creation. After all, this context touches upon the meaning and vision of the subject, as well as the life of the artist: where and when did he create it, why, and for what purpose.