Louvre Museum

Paris-based writer Andrew Hussey travels through the glorious art and surprising history of an extraordinary French institution to show that the story of the Louvre is the story of France.

Paris-based writer Andrew Hussey travels through the glorious art and surprising history of an extraordinary French institution to show that the story of the Louvre is the story of France. As well as exploring the masterpieces of painters such as Veronese, Rubens, David, Chardin, Gericault and Delacroix, he examines the changing face of the Louvre itself through its architecture and design. Medieval fortress, Renaissance palace, luxurious home to kings, emperors and more recently civil servants, today it attracts eight million visitors a year. The documentary also reflects the very latest transformation of the Louvre - the museum's recently-opened Islamic Gallery.

The Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of the world's largest art museums. Its magnificent buildings served as the official residence of the Russian Emperors for almost two centuries. Now they are open to the public and over two million artifacts and works of art from prehistoric times to the contemporary period are exhibited in hundreds of galleries and rooms.

Visited by millions around the world every year, discover the untold story of the history of the institution of the museum, one of mankind's most essential creations.

In Museum Skepticism, art historian David Carrier traces the birth, evolution, and decline of the public art museum as an institution meant to spark democratic debate and discussion.