The Getty, or the J. Paul Getty Museum, in Los Angeles is an important attraction point for art appreciators. When visitors are asked about the most memorable impressions of visiting this place, many recollect luminous marble pavilions and the famous Irises series by Vincent van Gogh. Yet, this museum has many marvels to be uncovered, and this guide will help you embrace its art legacy in full.

What Art to Review Closely at the Getty? Top 3 Picks

Globally known masterpieces reside at the J. Paul Getty Museum side by side with less popular but no less significant art treasures. Here are several art objects you’re sure to love.

The Bust with Two Faces

This antique marble sculpture of the ancient Roman period was created in the 2nd century AD. At first glance, it looks like many other Roman sculptures, with nothing specific about it. However, a closer look from an attentive visitor opens up another face on the sculpture’s back side, which represents the ancient god Janus, a two-faced deity of transitions and dualities.

French Armchair

The 18th-century Rococo chair covered with pale blue silk is located at the Getty’s Decorative Arts galleries. Nothing special at first glance, this art object also hides a thrilling, mysterious story behind it. When the chair was restored, and the conservators disassembled it, they found layers of paint dating back to three distinct historical periods. This discovery led them to the conclusion that furniture items used to be upgraded and redecorated in the old times to let them match fashion trends.

“Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and a Rose” by Francisco de Zurbarán

This humble 17th-century painting by the Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán may often be overlooked by visitors because of its neighbors – grand Baroque canvases. However, those who notice the art object and decide to inspect it closely are sure to be rewarded with aesthetic discoveries. Zurbarán was widely known for painting his works with monastic precision, and in this painting, bright citruses serve as symbols of purity while a thornless rose represents the Virgin Mary. Knowing these facts enriches the painting’s interpretation and invites visitors on a spiritual journey of artistic exploration.

These and many other art objects at the Getty offer a unique glimpse of art’s diversity, representing a rich cultural heritage worth exploring. Whether you enter the Decorative Arts galleries or go to the Manuscripts gallery, each space has some mysteries waiting to be uncovered.