The Rest Is History

Why was Jean-François Millet’s The Angelus considered highly controversial and politically divisive in pre-industrial 19th-century France? What do we know about his personal background, his ambiguous relationship with his subjects, and the scene of the famous Barbizon School? And, how did artists like Salvador Dalí and Vincent Van Gogh draw inspiration and reinterpret the painting? 

In this new The Rest Is History Club series, Tom is joined by art critic and author Laura Cumming to discuss the histories behind famous paintings and put them in their historical contexts.

To hear the full episode, and all the other exclusive new episodes from Laura and Tom's paintings  series, coming out every Wednesday for the next four weeks, join The Rest is History Club at therestishistory.com

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happened to the emperor of the Incas after he was taken prisoner by the Spanish conquistadors? Did the formidable buccaneer, Francisco Pizarro, and his men succeed in discovering the treasure troves of the Incas? And, could the Incan empire stand united against this terrifying, alien invasion…?

Join Dominic and Tom, as they charge into the bloodiest moment of the whole conquest of the Incas thus far….

To listen to or watch The Book Club, go to: The Book Club

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude 

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why does Emily Brontë's novel, Wuthering Heights, have such an enduring romantic association? Is Heathcliff a romantic lead, or an abusive antihero? Are the characters aspirational in any way, or irredeemable?

Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they discuss all this and more.

Email us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Instagram: ⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠

TikTok: ⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠

X: ⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠

YouTube: ⁠@TheBookClubPodHQ⁠

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: James Clayden
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happened when the Spanish conquistadors lead by Francisco Pizarro came face to face with the ruthless emperor of the Incan Empire, Atahualpa? How did the Incas treat their strange, pale, alien visitors with their horses? And, why did a brutal, bloody fight to the death break out between the two sides after the meeting?

Join Dominic and Tom, as they discuss one of the most totemic meetings of all time - the emperor of the Incas Atahualpa and the Spanish buccaneer Francisco Pizarro. Would either survive the confrontation that ensued?

Become a member today and join us at The Rest Is History Festival at Hampton Court Palace on the 4th and 5th of July 2026. This is a members-only event. Join the Athelstans for guaranteed entry or become a Friend of the Show to enter the ballot. You'll also get ad-free listening, bonus episodes, exclusive miniseries and more.Sign up now at ⁠therestishistory.com and find out more about the festival here.UTM: http://therestishistory.com/club?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=trihfestival&utm_term=listeners&utm_content=episodedescription

_______

This episode is sponsored by Anthropic, the team behind Claude. Try Claude for free today at Claude.ai/restishistory 

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude 

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How does Henry Raeburn’s Skating Minister represent both the Scottish Enlightenment and the Romantic movement? In what ways does subject Reverend Robert Walker’s personal history connect to the famous Dutch Golden Age? And, how did a controversy about the most reproduced image in Scotland  traumatise the Scottish national identity? 

In this new The Rest Is History Club series, Tom is joined by art critic and author Laura Cumming to discuss the histories behind famous paintings and put them in their historical contexts.

To hear the full episode, and all the other exclusive new episodes from Laura and Tom's paintings  series, coming out every Wednesday for the next four weeks, join The Rest is History Club at therestishistory.com

To hear these exclusive new episodes from Laura and Tom every Wednesday for the next four weeks, join The Rest is History Club at ⁠therestishistory.com⁠. 

NEXT WEEK…
Jan 23rd: The Angelus - Jean-François Millet 

_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices