EPISODE · Oct 21, 2025 · 35 MIN
What Makes Great Art Great? With James Payne and Leslie Primo
from Artfully Said · host The Arts Society
What really makes great art great? In this week's episode, Arts Society accredited lecturer and art historian Leslie Primo joins James Payne (Great Art Explained) to debate everything from Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa to myths about Van Gogh and the role of patrons, critics and power in shaping the art world. They explore originality vs. refinement, technique vs. emotion and why even controversial figures like Rothko, Hirst and Emin may stand the test of time. From old masters like Caravaggio and Van Eyck to modern movements like Impressionism, Abstract Expressionism and the Young British Artists, this episode asks how what ends up in the canon - and who gets to decide. With stories of gatekeepers, conservation debates, Cold War Politics and today’s art market, this is a deep dive into how art’s meaning and value evolve in the public eye.Further Reading: Great Art Explained by James PayneThe Foreign Invention of British Art by Leslie Primo The Arts Society brings arts education and culture to a network of over 64,000 members. With over 300 Arts Societies across the UK and beyond, there is a local Arts Society ready to welcome you, wherever you are.Become a member for monthly expert arts lectures, special events, and a community of art lovers near you.All guest viewpoints are independent and do not necessarily reflect The Arts Society’s perspective.
What this episode covers
What really makes great art great? In this week's episode, Arts Society accredited lecturer and art historian Leslie Primo joins James Payne (Great Art Explained) to debate everything from Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa to myths about Van Gogh and the role of patrons, critics and power in shaping the art world. They explore originality vs. refinement, technique vs. emotion and why even controversial figures like Rothko, Hirst and Emin may stand the test of time. From old masters like Caravaggio and Van Eyck to modern movements like Impressionism, Abstract Expressionism and the Young British Artists, this episode asks how what ends up in the canon - and who gets to decide. With stories of gatekeepers, conservation debates, Cold War Politics and today’s art market, this is a deep dive into how art’s meaning and value evolve in the public eye.Further Reading: Great Art Explained by James PayneThe Foreign Invention of British Art by Leslie Primo The Arts Society brings arts education and culture to a network of over 64,000 members. With over 300 Arts Societies across the UK and beyond, there is a local Arts Society ready to welcome you, wherever you are.Become a member for monthly expert arts lectures, special events, and a community of art lovers near you.All guest viewpoints are independent and do not necessarily reflect The Arts Society’s perspective.
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What Makes Great Art Great? With James Payne and Leslie Primo
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