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Tatton Park

Bendor Grosvenor and Emma Dabiri discover a mysterious portrait at Tatton Park in Cheshire. Bendor makes a bold claim for the artist and is forced to completely rethink his ideas.

Bendor Grosvenor and Emma Dabiri travel to the grand Georgian mansion of Tatton Park in Cheshire, where Bendor has spotted a mysterious portrait of a 16th-century physician in its collection. Initially he wonders if the work might be by mannerist painter Parmigianino, but once the restoration is underway, and after examining other works by the Renaissance master, he is forced to abandon this idea and start again.

Emma explores the story of the man who bought the portrait, Wilbraham, the first Earl Egerton of Tatton, whose social climbing saw him turn the mansion into a marvel of luxury and won him an aristocratic title. Meanwhile Bendor, who is still confused by who the artist might be, is inspired by a chance remark from restorer Simon Gillespie. This new lead prompts a trip to Rome and Florence, which finally confirms an attribution for the painting and ultimately reveals the subject to be a well-known Renaissance anatomist. This prompts Emma to investigate the symbiotic relationship between art and anatomy.

59 minutes

Music Played

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

  • 00:37

    The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge

    Sanctus

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Bendor Grosvenor
Presenter Emma Dabiri
Series Producer Spike Geilinger
Executive Producer Harry Bell
Executive Producer Brendan Hughes

Broadcasts