August 2007
Issue 08-07

The Getty Villa

Museum of the Classical Mediterranean

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The Getty Villa - Malibu California

If you have a love of ancient art and have a day to spend in Los Angeles, the Getty Villa in Malibu is not to be missed. The outstanding collection contains such treasures as the "Victorious Youth", one of the few surviving full-size Greek bronze figures. The architecture and grounds are another treasure, lovingly refurbished and expanded during an eight year closure. Strolling through the gardens, there is an unmistakable sense of having entered the ancient world. Arrive at 10 AM if you can and you will feel as if you have the Villa to yourself.

Dedicated solely for the display of art from Classical Greece, the Etruscans, Ancient Rome, Mycenae and the very ancient art of the Cyclad Islands that influenced Amedeo Modigliani so strongly.

Some of the Venus figures at the Getty Villa date back 8000 years.

The Getty Villa has been much in the news lately. Recently they have agreed to return 40 works of art to Italy, much discussed in L. A. as having been looted from Greece by the Romans, so why are we returning it??? Nevertheless, as a result of the improved relationship with Italy, the Getty has been promised a regular series of loaned art from the Italian museums.

The museum has been designed in a way that the visit seems very personal, the galleries are small and isolated from each other so that each viewing experience is private. Also the number of visitors is carefully controlled. Visit the Villa without a ticket and you will be turned away at the gate. Tickets can be aquired online but must be requested weeks in advance of a planned trip. It is possible to check for tickets in the morning and acquire tickets for that same day, but this is a hit or miss proposition. Best to make your arrangements well in advance. Admission is free but there is an $8.00 parking fee. Bus service from Santa Monica is regular and reliable, so it entirely possible to visit the Villa for the cost of bus fare.

The Getty Villa has been designed after a Roman Villa unearthed at Herculaneum, the detail at the entrance includes a series of alterations of materials and patterns in the wall. These changes in materials and patterns as you walk along the stairs represent changes in geological layers as one would find at an excavation site. The statues outside are reproductions of those found at Herculaneum. Compare a picture from the ruins of Herculaneum with the paintings in the halls along the reflection pool at the Getty Villa.

These paintings provide not just a physical proclamation of the wealth and power of the person dwelling here but increase the sense of space.

The entrance to the Villa with representations of the Geological layers as one would find at an excavation site.

The architectural design has carefully considered every detail. The electrical system is disguised in the floor with removable panels that fit into the design. The stairway of polished brass has wooden hand-rails that seamlessly become marble hand-rails.

Under the polished brass staircase

Wooden Hand Rails become Marble Hand-Rails

The gardens are well represented with statues and benches for resting, restrooms are plentiful and the gift store is interesting and full of lovely reproductions.

The exterior gardens, plazas and amphitheaters are similar to what the current scholarship posits a "new" Roman villa would look like.

The educational component includes an interactive informational room with timelines illustrated with artifacts, a large map showing the various empires and civilizations of the Mediterranean and how they changed geographically over time. Many of the individual galleries include audio-visual aids to the pieces on display. For children there is a room dedicated to painting vases and engaging in mock warfare with foam material helmets, swords and shields.

Downstairs there is one room dedicated to gold artifacts and one to silver artifacts, both rooms certainly would impress any teenager.

Dining is simple and inexpensive; order at the counter and the food is delivered to your table, either outside on the patio or inside. The menu is California influenced Italian and Spanish fare with beer and wine available.

The Getty Villa is set in the hills of Malibu, California. The Pacific Ocean can be seen, in the not too far distance, as one looks down the cobble stone drive that leads from the entrance to the car parks.

As at any self-respecting Roman villa, the Getty Villa includes a herb garden. The gardens at the Villa, including the herb gaden, contain only un-hybridized versions of plants that would have been in a Roman villa, included the kinds of herbs and fruits that were used in Roman kitchens.

The Villa Herb Garden

The amphitheater includes a regular schedule of mostly Greek style comedies and tragedies, the performances are in English but the costumes and masks are as close to authentic to be found anywhere.

The Villa Amphitheater

A visit to the Getty Villa is a visit to a timeless journey into an ancient Roman home filled with Greek wine vases, mosaics, statues of the gods and goddesses of the Mediterranean and the implements of daily life. The attention to detail architecturally and horticulturally provides the basis of a real experieince of Roman Italy. The most important drawback is the inability of simply to arrive at the Villa without reservation, this museum demands planning and patience as, sometimes, tickets may not be available for several weeks or even months.

From an educator's point of view, in a very large museum like the New York Metropolitian it is conceivable that one could view Classical scupture in one gallery and move to the Renaissance gallery and discuss the the influence of Classical forms on the Renaissance artist. Or move from a gallery of African art to a gallery of post-Impressionism and discuss similar influences. This is not possible to do at the Getty Villa.

More information about the Getty Villa can be found at: http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/renovating_villa/