"Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty" on BBC Two delves into the turbulent world of the Italian Renaissance, revealing the dark side behind the era's magnificent art. This documentary series goes beyond famous paintings to explore the ruthless ambition and violent power struggles that shaped history. Follow the scandalous stories of influential families like the Medici in Florence and the Borgias in Rome. You will discover how they used immense wealth, political scheming, and even murder to seize control and fund the creation of timeless masterpieces. The show brilliantly illustrates how genius and brutality were often intertwined during this explosive period of cultural change. The series has ended, but sign up for a reminder just in case it returns.