A Month In Siena By Hisham Matar

Episode

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

20200713

When Hisham Matar was nineteen years old he came across the Sienese School of painting for the first time. In the year in which Matar's life was shattered by the disappearance of his father. the work of the great artists of Siena seemed to offer him a sense of hope. Over the years that followed, his feelings towards these paintings would deepen and, as he says, 'Siena began to occupy the sort of uneasy reverence the devout might feel towards Mecca or Rome or Jerusalem'.

A Month in Siena is the encounter, 25 years later, between the writer and the city he had worshipped from afar. It's a dazzling evocation of an extraordinary place and its effect on the writer's life. It's also an immersion in painting, a consideration of grief and a profoundly moving contemplation of the relationship between art and the human condition.

Bewitching . . . Meditating on art, history and the relationship between them, this is both a portrait of a city and an affirmation of life's quiet dignities in the face of loss.' - The Economist, Books of the Year

In episode 1, Hisham Matar at last visits Siena, to immerse himself in the atmosphere of the place, and spend time amongst its great works of art.

20200714

In episode 2, HIsham Matar and his wife visit the famous frescoes in the town hall or Palazzo Pubblico of Siena. They particularly want to see the 14th Century frescoes painted by Ambrogio Lorenzetti.

The author and his wife visit Siena's town hall to see the famous frescoes.

20200715

In episode 3, Hisham Matar - now on his own in the city - decides to explore and heads for the city walls.

The author explores alone, and though solitary, he feels connected to the city.

20200716

In episode 4, the author goes to see the epic 14th Century altarpiece by Duccio di Buoninsegna - The Maesta.

Exploring further into the city, the author finds out about its plague-ridden past.

05 LAST

20200717

In episode 5, the time has come to leave Siena, but it is not long before Hisham Matar is planning his next visit. He reflects on how this trip has changed his view on many things.

As the month comes to an end, Matar reflects on how his time there has changed his view.

OMNI

20241012

20241013 (BBC7)

When Hisham Matar was nineteen years-old he came across the Sienese School of painting for the first time. In the year in which Matar's life was shattered by the disappearance of his father, the work of the great artists of Siena seemed to offer him a sense of hope.

Over the years that followed, his feelings towards these paintings would deepen and, as he says, “Siena began to occupy the sort of uneasy reverence the devout might feel towards Mecca or Rome or Jerusalem”.

‘A Month in Siena' is the encounter, 25 years later, between the writer and the city he had worshipped from afar. It's a dazzling evocation of an extraordinary place and its effect on the writer's life. It's also an immersion in painting, a consideration of grief and a profoundly moving contemplation of the relationship between art and the human condition.

Omnibus of five parts abridged by Jill Waters and Jonquil Panting.

Producer: Jill Waters

A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2020.

Hisham Matar's account of a trip to the city whose painters so influenced his view of art. Read by Khalid Abdalla.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	20200713		When Hisham Matar was nineteen years old he came across the Sienese School of painting for the first time. In the year in which Matar's life was shattered by the disappearance of his father. the work of the great artists of Siena seemed to offer him a sense of hope. Over the years that followed, his feelings towards these paintings would deepen and, as he says, 'Siena began to occupy the sort of uneasy reverence the devout might feel towards Mecca or Rome or Jerusalem'. A Month in Siena is the encounter, 25 years later, between the writer and the city he had worshipped from afar. It's a dazzling evocation of an extraordinary place and its effect on the writer's life. It's also an immersion in painting, a consideration of grief and a profoundly moving contemplation of the relationship between art and the human condition. Bewitching . . . Meditating on art, history and the relationship between them, this is both a portrait of a city and an affirmation of life's quiet dignities in the face of loss.' - The Economist, Books of the Year In episode 1, Hisham Matar at last visits Siena, to immerse himself in the atmosphere of the place, and spend time amongst its great works of art.
02	20200714		When Hisham Matar was nineteen years old he came across the Sienese School of painting for the first time. In the year in which Matar's life was shattered by the disappearance of his father. the work of the great artists of Siena seemed to offer him a sense of hope. Over the years that followed, his feelings towards these paintings would deepen and, as he says, 'Siena began to occupy the sort of uneasy reverence the devout might feel towards Mecca or Rome or Jerusalem'. A Month in Siena is the encounter, 25 years later, between the writer and the city he had worshipped from afar. It's a dazzling evocation of an extraordinary place and its effect on the writer's life. It's also an immersion in painting, a consideration of grief and a profoundly moving contemplation of the relationship between art and the human condition. Bewitching . . . Meditating on art, history and the relationship between them, this is both a portrait of a city and an affirmation of life's quiet dignities in the face of loss.' - The Economist, Books of the Year In episode 2, HIsham Matar and his wife visit the famous frescoes in the town hall or Palazzo Pubblico of Siena. They particularly want to see the 14th Century frescoes painted by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. The author and his wife visit Siena's town hall to see the famous frescoes.
03	20200715		When Hisham Matar was nineteen years old he came across the Sienese School of painting for the first time. In the year in which Matar's life was shattered by the disappearance of his father. the work of the great artists of Siena seemed to offer him a sense of hope. Over the years that followed, his feelings towards these paintings would deepen and, as he says, 'Siena began to occupy the sort of uneasy reverence the devout might feel towards Mecca or Rome or Jerusalem'. A Month in Siena is the encounter, 25 years later, between the writer and the city he had worshipped from afar. It's a dazzling evocation of an extraordinary place and its effect on the writer's life. It's also an immersion in painting, a consideration of grief and a profoundly moving contemplation of the relationship between art and the human condition. Bewitching . . . Meditating on art, history and the relationship between them, this is both a portrait of a city and an affirmation of life's quiet dignities in the face of loss.' - The Economist, Books of the Year In episode 3, Hisham Matar - now on his own in the city - decides to explore and heads for the city walls. The author explores alone, and though solitary, he feels connected to the city.
04	20200716		When Hisham Matar was nineteen years old he came across the Sienese School of painting for the first time. In the year in which Matar's life was shattered by the disappearance of his father. the work of the great artists of Siena seemed to offer him a sense of hope. Over the years that followed, his feelings towards these paintings would deepen and, as he says, 'Siena began to occupy the sort of uneasy reverence the devout might feel towards Mecca or Rome or Jerusalem'. A Month in Siena is the encounter, 25 years later, between the writer and the city he had worshipped from afar. It's a dazzling evocation of an extraordinary place and its effect on the writer's life. It's also an immersion in painting, a consideration of grief and a profoundly moving contemplation of the relationship between art and the human condition. Bewitching . . . Meditating on art, history and the relationship between them, this is both a portrait of a city and an affirmation of life's quiet dignities in the face of loss.' - The Economist, Books of the Year In episode 4, the author goes to see the epic 14th Century altarpiece by Duccio di Buoninsegna - The Maesta. Exploring further into the city, the author finds out about its plague-ridden past.
05 LAST	20200717		When Hisham Matar was nineteen years old he came across the Sienese School of painting for the first time. In the year in which Matar's life was shattered by the disappearance of his father. the work of the great artists of Siena seemed to offer him a sense of hope. Over the years that followed, his feelings towards these paintings would deepen and, as he says, 'Siena began to occupy the sort of uneasy reverence the devout might feel towards Mecca or Rome or Jerusalem'. A Month in Siena is the encounter, 25 years later, between the writer and the city he had worshipped from afar. It's a dazzling evocation of an extraordinary place and its effect on the writer's life. It's also an immersion in painting, a consideration of grief and a profoundly moving contemplation of the relationship between art and the human condition. Bewitching . . . Meditating on art, history and the relationship between them, this is both a portrait of a city and an affirmation of life's quiet dignities in the face of loss.' - The Economist, Books of the Year In episode 5, the time has come to leave Siena, but it is not long before Hisham Matar is planning his next visit. He reflects on how this trip has changed his view on many things. As the month comes to an end, Matar reflects on how his time there has changed his view.
OMNI	20241012	20241013 (BBC7)	When Hisham Matar was nineteen years-old he came across the Sienese School of painting for the first time. In the year in which Matar's life was shattered by the disappearance of his father, the work of the great artists of Siena seemed to offer him a sense of hope. Over the years that followed, his feelings towards these paintings would deepen and, as he says, “Siena began to occupy the sort of uneasy reverence the devout might feel towards Mecca or Rome or Jerusalem”. ‘A Month in Siena' is the encounter, 25 years later, between the writer and the city he had worshipped from afar. It's a dazzling evocation of an extraordinary place and its effect on the writer's life. It's also an immersion in painting, a consideration of grief and a profoundly moving contemplation of the relationship between art and the human condition. Omnibus of five parts abridged by Jill Waters and Jonquil Panting. Producer: Jill Waters A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2020. Hisham Matar's account of a trip to the city whose painters so influenced his view of art. Read by Khalid Abdalla.