Leonardo & The Divine Michelangelo

Leonardo
The story of the most imaginative mind in human history as it's never been told before. Artist, scientist and engineer, Leonardo was one of the greatest figures of the Renaissance and yet only a handful of facts are known about him. This is the portrait of a genius of extraordinary diversity who lived a rollercoaster life of success and failure. Using computer graphics and virtual reality, the viewer is able to retread Leonardo's footsteps in Renaissance Italy. The film also analyses his remarkable inventions, reconstructing and testing them. All these elements come together to reveal the real Leonardo.

Includes special feature: The Secret Life of the Mona Lisa
This companion film sets out to solve the mystery behind Mona Lisa's elusive smile; to find out who she was, what she meant to Leonardo, and why she is smiling. From the sublime to the ridiculous the life of this painting contains many extraordinary stories.

The Divine Michelangelo
Unveiling the man behind the myth. Five hundred years ago, Michelangelo created three of the art world's greatest icons: the statue of David, the painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican and the dome of St Peter's in Rome. This revealing BBC drama documentary traces his development from angry young man to pride of Rome. His prodigious talent has led people to describe him as more divine than human. Modern experts reproduce elements of his work to discover the extent of his genius. His personal life is also examined. Was art's first superstar the poverty-stricken, tortured, lonely outsider that many of us believe? Or was he a cunning spin-doctor who skilfully moulded his own image?