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John Constable, Frank Sinatra, The art of animation, Poetic performance enhancers

John Wilson talks to Frank Sinatra's biographer, views Constable's The Lock and meets the great animation artist Barry Purves, plus there's a call to kick drugs out of poetry.

Frank Sinatra was born 100 years ago this month, and to mark his centenary John Wilson will be discussing the singing legend with James Kaplan, whose book Sinatra: The Chairman, the second volume of his magisterial biography of the crooner, has just been published.

Barry Purves has been animating using stop motion techniques for decades. He talks to John about his career ahead of an evening dedicated to his work at the London International Animation Festival, which opens tonight.

John visits the Sotheby's, where their biggest sales of old masters ever is being gathered. Paintings include John Constable's 'The Lock', one of only 3 Constables still in private hands, and a portrait of Henry VIII from the studio of Hans Holbein. Might these, so connected with this country, leave it? John discusses this, and whether it matters, with art critic William Feaver.

On a day when doping in sport is in the news the publisher Michael Schmidt has a modest proposal: to rid the world of performance enhancing substances - the world of poetry, that is.

Producer: Julian May.

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30 minutes

Chapters

  • Frank Sinatra

    Duration: 10:51

  • John Constable

    Duration: 06:08

  • The art of animation

    Duration: 07:38

  • Poetic performance enhancers

    Duration: 03:36

Old Master & British Paintings

Old Master & British Paintings

Sotheby's takes place in London on Wednesday 9 December

Image: Workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger - Portrait of King Henry VIII (1491–1547).Μύ

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra

Sinatra: The Chairman by is out now.

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Barry Purves

Barry Purves

A retrospective of the work of takes place tonight at the Barbican in London as part of the . The Festival continues until Sunday 13 December.

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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter John Wilson
Interviewed Guest James Kaplan
Interviewed Guest Barry Purves
Interviewed Guest William Feaver
Interviewed Guest Michael Schmidt
Producer Julian May

Broadcast

  • Fri 4 Dec 2015 19:15

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