Sculptures of the Louvre

A compilation of seven half-hour programs shot in 1996, each of which focus on a single sculpture or ensemble now housed at the titular world-renowned Parisian museum, this two-disc set is a model of elegant production, scholarly precision, and artistic insight. The objects chosen for examination range from the statue of Pharoah Ramses II, dating back to the second millennium B.C., through Antonio Canova's Cupid and Psyche, an example of the classicism of the late 18th century. The five other works are the Assyrian Bulls of Khorsabad, hailing from the first millennium B.C.; the Hellenistic Venus de Milo; the wooden statue of Mary Magdalene ascribed to Gregor Erhart; the bound and dying slaves of Michelangelo; and the four equestrian ensembles produced for the French royal chateau at Marly, two by Antoine Coysevox made for Louis XI, and two by Guillaume Coustou for Louis XV. Each episode not only offers loving views of the sculptures from a variety of angles and distances, but also discusses the pieces' creation or discovery, and situates them clearly within the context of both art history and the broader historical sweep. The exemplary use of locations, archival footage, stills, paintings, and other objets d'art, combined with fluid camerawork and subdued but effective narration, make this set both useful as an educational tool and of considerable appeal to general viewers. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)