A Trip to the Getty Villa

 I recently took a trip up to the Getty Villa with my mom and her friend. The Getty Villa is unlike any museum you will ever visit. It is not dark or dingy, but full of accurate and beautiful architecture, gardens, and art. The Getty Villa is a replica of a rural estate in Herculaneum.

The landscape and gardens of the Getty Villa is gorgeous and an art by itself. I joined a tour to learn the historical context of the garden and architecture. All of the tour guides were knowledgable and delightful. The plants, vegetables, and fruit that you would find in Herculaneum. A long stretch of beautiful and fully bloomed lavender fills the garden. When you reach the grapes, you feel like you are in a whole different world.

The architecture of the atrium and building was inspired by the Pompeii architecture and mosaic. When you leave the atrium, it opens up to the outdoors again. There were women statues pouring water into the long pool, little fountains, and huge columns. There are rooms located around this area that are filled with Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art.

Lansdowne Herakles

The statue of Herakles had its own temple. The statue is called "Lansdowne Herakles," it is actually a Roman copy of the Greek original. Herakles is naked and holding a club after he killed Nemean the lion. The statue is crafted in marble.

The art is all focused on mythology, especially the jars and jugs. The jugs have a scene from a mythology painted on all the jars. "The Attributed to the Eagle Paint" Etruscan water jar is about how Hercules defeated the hydra of Lerna. The jar is a black-figure pottery painting. The subjects are silhouettes with details of red and white lines.

If you want to visit the Getty Villa, my suggestion is to go with a tour or group of people. I paid $15 that included transportation and no stress about parking. The Getty Villa is free, but parking is $7. The Getty Villa is definitely unlike any museum I have ever been to.

 "The Attributed to the Eagle Paint" Etruscan