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Gallery. The Getty Villa. 1) The facility

 

While he was despised by many during his lifetime, J.P. Getty has left the world a wonderful legacy.  Getty was one of the world’s first billionaires who like Bill Gates was the richest man in the world during his time.  Getty, an unpleasant but highly successful businessman, was a passionate collector of antiquities and art.  Collecting art became the center of his life.  His view towards his hobby is summarized by his quote, “The beauty one can find in art is one of the pitifully few real and lasting products of human endeavor.”

Outer Peristyle, Getty Villa.

Getty wanted others to share in his passion.  His personal collection formed the basis of the two museums in Los Angeles that bear his name, the J. Paul Getty Museum in West Los Angeles (Brentwood) and the Getty Villa in Malibu.  His estate left $661 million to the Getty Trust in 1976 and that money has been wisely invested, used to buy numerous additional pieces of art and to create places for its presentation.  The Getty Trust's work has expanded to include education and art preservation.  The trust is still very well funded, even after these massive expenditures, and it looks like its work can continue for decades to come.

Getty himself supervised the construction of his first museum during the 1970s, the Getty Villa, on his property in Malibu near his home.  The Getty Villa is modeled after a first-century Roman country house, the Villa dei Papiri, in Herculaneum, Italy.  Getty's Villa is situated just above the Pacific Ocean.  It is a beautiful building with magnificent grounds and gardens.  Sadly, Getty never saw the completed Villa he spent so much effort and money to build.  Today it houses the antiquities portion of Getty’s collection, including Greek, Roman and Etruscan pieces (modern works are housed in the Getty Museum in nearby Brentwood).   Admission to the Villa is free.  You need to reserve your admission (no charge), and you must pay for parking, a comparative bargin.  It will take at least a half day to enjoy the facility and have a cursory look at its collection.  

This is the first of a two part blog on the Getty Villa, this one featuring the architecture, landscaping and physical facility of the Villa.  On Friday I posted a gallery with some key pieces of the museum's vast collection of art which you can visit at this link.  For legends to the following photos, please hold your mouse over the image, or click on the thumbnails below.

Main entrance to the Getty Villa

Main entrance to the Getty Villa

Ceilingi to the Main entrance of the Getty Villa

Outer Peristyle, Getty Villa.

Sitting area near the Outer Peristyle, Getty Villa.

Outer Peristyle, Getty Villa.

Outer Peristyle, Getty Villa.

Inner Peristyle, Getty Villa.

Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman Theater, Getty Villa

Restaurant area and gift shop, Getty Villa

JP Getty's home on the rear of the Getty Villa's grounds.

Walkway adjoining the Outer Peristyle

Walkway adjoining the Outer Peristyle

East Garden, Getty Villa

East Garden, Getty Villa

East Garden, Getty Villa

Herb Garden, Getty Villa

Herb Garden, Getty Villa

Herb Garden, Getty Villa

Fountain, Herb Garden, Getty Villa

Herb Garden, Getty Villa

Marble wall panels, Getty Villa

Floor detail, Getty Villa

Floor detail, Getty Villa

Attachments

Images (26)
  • Main entrance to the Getty Villa
  • Main entrance to the Getty Villa
  • Ceiling to the Main entrance of the Getty Villa
  • Outer Peristyle, Getty Villa.: A typically Roman era collection of plants, statues, walkways and pool
  • Outer Peristyle, Getty Villa.
  • Outer Peristyle, Getty Villa viewed from second floor of the Villa
  • Sitting area near the Outer Peristyle, Getty Villa.
  • Outer Peristyle, Getty Villa.
  • Outer Peristyle, Getty Villa.
  • Inner Peristyle, Getty Villa.
  • Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman Theater, Getty Villa: A Roman era style amphitheater
  • Restaurant area and gift shop, Getty Villa
  • JP Getty's home on the rear of the Getty Villa's grounds.
  • Walkway adjoining the Outer Peristyle
  • Walkway adjoining the Outer Peristyle
  • East Garden, Getty Villa
  • East Garden, Getty Villa
  • East Garden, Getty Villa
  • Herb Garden, Getty Villa
  • Herb Garden, Getty Villa
  • Herb Garden, Getty Villa
  • Fountain, Herb Garden, Getty Villa
  • Herb Garden, Getty Villa
  • Marble wall panels, Getty Villa
  • Floor detail, Getty Villa
  • Floor detail, Getty Villa

Twitter: @DrFumblefinger

"We do not take a trip, a trip takes us".  John Steinbeck, from Travels with Charlie

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Comments (1)

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Great photos! Is the cafeteria still in the courtyard?

My love of art museums began as a teenager with the Getty in Malibu.Although i've seen a lot of museums since ,it really does rank right up there with the worlds best.

If you want a thing done, ask a busy man.

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