Plot Summary:An eclectic look at British portraiture through the ages, in which Schama tries to understand how it contributes towards the British character and its changes.
Simon Schama explores the history of British portraiture, revealing the stories behind some of the most compelling images in British art. The series examines the ways this unique art form has been used as a statement of power, a declaration of love, to promote fame, to offer insight into the artists themselves and to capture the faces of the British people.