From old masters to contemporary scenes, artworks are often embedded in our favourite TV shows. They can foreshadow a narrative, give an insight into a character’s storyline, or influence the aesthetics of the whole series. Yet we might not decipher this at first glance.
It was when I heard the name Artemisia Gentileschi, and her painting Self-Portrait as an Allegory of Painting, being discussed by Prince Philip and art historian (and spy) Anthony Blunt on season three of The Crown, that I realised that art on TV is often much more than just set dressing. The conversation about Gentileschi spoke to the history of the royal collection – the painting was a commission by King Charles I who personally invited the artist to England in 1638 – and pointed to the prominence Gentileschi had in her lifetime. Although clearly this was not to last, as Blunt had to correct Philip’s assumption that the female painter was a “he”.
