The Getty Center
GOINGS
ON AT THE GETTY
By Carole & Hugh Bobys
Our neighborhood
gem never ceases to amaze, never fails to impress. Three new exhibits
that just opened to the public are well worth the $7.00 parking fee
and the delightful tram ride to the top of the hill.
For us, the exhibition
of paintings by Jacques-Luis David (1748-1825) was the most impressive.
David was the most prominent French painter during the tumultuous period
surrounding the French Revolution. You will immediately recognize his
heroic portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte, which are truly amazing to view
in person. His many other works on display take us from his days as
a young artist of the Revolution, to his brief imprisonment, to the
court of Boanparte and finally to his exile in Brussels. During the
journey we meet, through David's stunning portraiture, many of the important
people in his life and time.
The photographs
of Roger Fenton (1819-1869) show us the world of the mid-19th century.
His photographs of impressive buildings and the idyllic English countryside
give us a sense of the world as it was at that time. On the other hand,
his photograph "The Valley of the Shadow of Death" is a poignant
commentary on the devastation of war. Fenton started out as a painter
and was an early pioneer in turning photography into an art form. If
you are into photography, this is a must see.
The exhibit, Drawn
to Rome, can be seen at the Getty Research Institute. On display are
drawings and etchings by young French artists who, during the 18th Century
went to study at the French Academy in Rome. This display explores the
idea "that drawing, above all else, constitute[s] the soul of good
painting, sculpture and architecture." Works on display include
drawings by David.
As usual, the Getty
provides a wealth of scholarly material to fill out and give greater
depth and understanding to the wonderful art that is on display. For
the casual art lover and the serious student the Getty is the place
to go.
These three exhibits
run through April 24, so you have plenty of time to see some art that
you might never have another opportunity to view. Enjoy!
