The Man and The Villa

The Getty Villa

I try to keep my posts short, but there is so much interesting information to share! The Getty Villa is as interesting and unique as the man whom it is named after. Some interesting history about both:

The Man

Working as a “roustabout” in his father’s oil business, attending colleges in California and England, and touring Europe all shaped the man J. Paul Getty would become.  After striking it rich in his own oil business at the age of 24 in 1916, he decided to retire to Los Angeles as a wealthy bachelor. This did not last long. He was back expanding the business and in 1957 Fortune magazine listed him as the richest man in America. The public was fascinated by him. He was known by many as being a miser. Could it be because he put a pay phone in his house for guests and employees to use? Maybe they thought this when his grandson was kidnapped and a ransom of 3.2 million dollars was requested? Which he refused to pay. After 3 months of holding the 16 year old captive, the kidnappers cut off his ear and sent it to a newspaper. Eventually (after 5 months), J. Paul Getty paid 2.2 million of the ransom (the largest tax deductible amount he could pay) and then he loaned his son the rest of the ransom money at a 4% interest! The money he saved by being miserly was spent freely on art and architecture.

The Villa

The Getty Villa is a replica of the Villa of Papyri. Once a house in Herculaneum, near Naples.  Historians believe that it may once have belonged to Julius Caesar’s father-in-law, Lucius Calpunius Piso. Completely covered by lava in the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, parts of it have been excavated. J. Paul Getty, though living in England, was very active in the construction of the Getty Villa. Unfortunately, he died before ever getting to see it.

HIs art collection began in the 1930’s. J. Paul Getty believed art to be “a civilizing influence in society”, and strongly felt it should be available to the public for enjoyment and education. He originally opened his ranch house as a small museum a few afternoons a week, and eventually built the Getty Villa which houses the art now. Most of the art were Greek and Roman antiquities with some French furniture and European paintings.

Our Experience!

Stunningly beautiful!!! Art dating back as far as 4000 B.C., gardens that were absolutely breath taking, and architecture that left you in awe! The detail in their pottery and jewelry was absolutely incredible. 

The gardens were unique in that they held lots of unique and rare plants! The featured display was on Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures in that display. I am hoping that some of our teachers will comment on this with their favorite sites from the museum!