Kenneth Clark Reflects on Civilisation, Bellini, and Contemporary Art Media in 2015 Interview

In a 2015 interview, art historian Sir Kenneth Clark, born in 1903 and former director of London's National Gallery from 1933, discussed his landmark 1969 TV series Civilisation. The series, which explored Western civilization through art, was filmed globally over two years and premiered with massive crowds at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, attracting figures like Jackie Onassis and Nixon's cabinet. Clark contrasted his approach with modern art documentaries, criticizing their reliance on clichés and lack of intellectual content, while praising exceptions like Jonathan Meades's architecture reflections. He recalled a transformative 1949 Bellini exhibition in Venice, which he visited daily for three weeks, and his unexpected encounter with Jackson Pollock's first European show. Clark also mentioned writing a 1951 book on Piero della Francesca, aided by Phaidon and Bernard Berenson, and expressed concerns about the art market, noting how commercialism elevates dealers' opinions over genuine criticism. He highlighted the challenges of mass-audience cultural communication, where presenter spontaneity is often stifled by corporate aims.