The second among the latest “Exhibition On Screen” series of art documentaries — showing at special screenings at the Fine Arts Theater — shifts gears drastically from Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1619) to British modern painter Lucien Freud (1922-2011). Suddenly the series comes to life in a way it did not with the da Vinci doc, in part because the artist himself participates (in a way).

Unless you just can’t stand Freud’s “sur-real” work (the hyphen matters, we’re told), this new summary of his career becomes increasingly fascinating as it unfolds. It’s linked to a 2019 exhibition of Freud’s self-portraits — including paintings in which he appears only peripherally — at London’s Royal Academy of Arts, and the focus on these pieces turns out to be a remarkably illuminating journey into the artist’s life and vision.

As with the da Vinci (or any art doc, really), there is the host of art historians and other experts who spout academic gibberish and high-toned interpretations that float through the brain like greeting card poems — full of deep convictions that hold no concrete meaning. But now and then a sensible observation sneaks in and provides actual insight. In this case, for instance, one expert notes Freud’s changing depiction of his subjects’ eyes, from oversized, brilliant mirrors to shadowy smudges late in life. (Make of that what you will.)

There’s also the bonus of Freud himself, in those self-portraits, in photographs, and in archival interviews, so brilliantly aware of his role as eccentric and entertainer as well as “artist.”

Mostly, though, there are the portraits, and the almost shocking evolution from Matisse-like primitivism to the freer, energetic later works that seem to be Rembrandt portraits filtered through the brush techniques of Francis Bacon (a friend and admitted influence). The film explores all these touchstones, with particular and revealing attention to Rembrandt, whose works look surprisingly modern in Freud’s context.

The film sketches Freud’s biography in broad strokes — he was Sigmund Freud’s grandson, a playboy, a restless world traveler, etc. — but the focus is his paintings, not his wives or press controversies (his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in 2001 was a scandal!). It’s a visually rich offering, lingering on some of the artists’ most compelling achievements and revealing details that casual viewers might miss. Whether you’re casually acquainted with Freud (as I was) or a dedicated fan, this “Exhibition on Screen” installment will draw you into the artist’s messy, mesmerizing milieu.

Grade: A-minus. Not rated but PG-13 equivalent due to the nudity in the artworks. Available to rent May 8-14 via fineartstheatre.com